Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa meets with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Riyadh on Oct. 6, 2026. (Credit: Saudi Press Agency)
On paper, the model seems simple: be friends with everyone after ridding the region of a regime that had become a liability even to its own allies. Until recently, the “zero problems” diplomacy championed by Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa since coming to power appeared to be working well.Syria normalized relations with Russia while positioning itself as an ally of the United States, forged excellent ties with Arab countries and Turkey, and embarked on a diplomatic process aimed at deescalating tensions with Israel. Iran was the only real exception to this highly pragmatic vision of Syrian diplomacy, given the heavy baggage between the two countries. Even so, Sharaa refrained from provoking Iran. Meanwhile... Hotel groups target Syria for tourism as it rebuilds from rubble of civil war But this model is increasingly being tested by...
On paper, the model seems simple: be friends with everyone after ridding the region of a regime that had become a liability even to its own allies. Until recently, the “zero problems” diplomacy championed by Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa since coming to power appeared to be working well.Syria normalized relations with Russia while positioning itself as an ally of the United States, forged excellent ties with Arab countries and Turkey, and embarked on a diplomatic process aimed at deescalating tensions with Israel. Iran was the only real exception to this highly pragmatic vision of Syrian diplomacy, given the heavy baggage between the two countries. Even so, Sharaa refrained from provoking Iran. Meanwhile... Hotel groups target Syria for tourism as it rebuilds from rubble of civil war But this model is increasingly being...
