Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa arrives at the U.N. headquarters in New York on Sept. 23, 2025, for the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly. (Credit: AFP archives)
Shortly before the outbreak of war between the United States and Iran in late February, a Qatari private jet landed in Damascus with a clear message from the Gulf monarchies to Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa.It expressed both their frustration with the lack of internal reforms that could justify future investments and their concerns over what they perceived as excessive rapprochement with the Trump administration. This signal was heard in Damascus and contributed to pushing Sharaa toward a more cautious foreign policy in the war between Washington and Tehran.Since then, the Syrian president has initiated a government reshuffle and altered certain balances within the state apparatus to respond, at least partially, to the Gulf’s expectations. This adaptability remains one of his main political assets. The current Syrian strategy is not...
Shortly before the outbreak of war between the United States and Iran in late February, a Qatari private jet landed in Damascus with a clear message from the Gulf monarchies to Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa.It expressed both their frustration with the lack of internal reforms that could justify future investments and their concerns over what they perceived as excessive rapprochement with the Trump administration. This signal was heard in Damascus and contributed to pushing Sharaa toward a more cautious foreign policy in the war between Washington and Tehran.Since then, the Syrian president has initiated a government reshuffle and altered certain balances within the state apparatus to respond, at least partially, to the Gulf’s expectations. This adaptability remains one of his main political assets. The current Syrian strategy is...
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