Why is a Delaware oil company in northern Syria?

Published: Aug. 5, 2020, 9 a.m.

Last year, President Trump stunned the world when he announced U.S. troops would leave northern Syria, effectively abandoning key regional allies like the Kurds. But Trump quickly backpedaled, and admitted “some” troops would stay to protect the oil fields. Now, a little known Delaware oil company has received the green light to the region. POLITICO’s Ben Lefebvre and Lara Seligman, on how the American company will develop those oil fields, and the geopolitical cost of this decision. Anthony Adragna is an energy reporter for POLITICO. Carlos Prieto is a Politico podcast producer. Jenny Ament is the senior producer of POLITICO audio. Irene Noguchi is the executive producer of POLITICO audio.