US Secretary of State Marco Rubio met with Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani and Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) Commander-in-Chief Mazloum Abdi on the margins of the Munich Security Conference.
According to US State Department spokesman Tommy Pigott, Rubio reaffirmed the United States’ support for a Syria “that is stable, at peace with its neighbours, and guarantees the rights of all ethnic and religious minorities.”
The Secretary of State also welcomed the Syrian authorities’ stated willingness to cooperate fully with the U.S. and the global coalition to defeat “Islamic State.”
During the meetings, Rubio stressed the importance of establishing a permanent ceasefire and implementing the Integration Agreement in northeastern Syria. He also emphasised the need to “ensure full respect and security for the rights of all Syrians.”
Munich Security Conference (MSC) this year takes place on 13-15 February.
Earlier it became known that Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa made already the second visit to Russia after the overthrow of Moscow’s long-time ally Bashar al-Assad in 2024. Their previous meeting took place on 15 October 2025.
The new Syrian authorities had earlier announced an arrest warrant for Bashar al-Assad. He is accused of premeditated murder and torture causing deaths. Reuters wrote that the new Syrian authorities demanded that Russia extradite Bashar al-Assad to them. In October 2025, Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa travelled to Moscow and met with Putin. Whether Assad’s extradition was the topic of the talks was not reported.
After al-Sharaa’s previous visit to Moscow in late October 2025, Russian warplanes resumed flights to the Hmeimim airbase in Syria after a six-month hiatus.