Rex Tillerson: “We must also be clear-eyed about our relationship with Russia. Russia today poses a danger.”

The United States does not seek to fight the Syrian government or pro-Syrian government forces.

We have to ensure our partners and allies understand what that moniker conveys and I think what we have had good dialogue with them about is it does not mean America is stepping back or that we only worry about our own self interests.

The United States and Russia certainly have unresolved differences on a number of issues. But we have the potential to appropriately coordinate in Syria in order to produce stability and serve our mutual security interests.

Where religious freedom is not protected, we know that instability, human rights abuses, and violent extremism have a greater opportunity to take root.