In a significant development, Al-Sharaa, the current leader of the Syrian government, recently held high-profile meetings in Damascus, including discussions with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. Al-Sharaa is the first Iraqi to make such a visit since 2007. In this visit, he tackles urgent matters such as the current conflict in Gaza, as well as needing to work toward a two-state solution. A one-time Islamist insurgent, Al-Sharaa would prove pivotal in the ground campaign that routed Bashar al-Assad’s forces in a matter of weeks. Today, he presides over a successful government that the Trump administration refuses to acknowledge.
Al-Sharaa heads a government that has suffered harsh sanctions due to the Assad’s regime. Amidst this challenge, he is doing everything possible to foster international relations. Though his administration has tried to walk back the condemnation, it is clear that the administration does not wish to oppose Israel. Yet the Israeli government considers them a threat. The Syrian leader uses every means to try and establish rapport with Palestinian leadership. His effort is particularly impressive considering his government hosts some 450,000 Palestinian refugees themselves.
During the joint meeting with Abbas, Al-Sharaa committed to establishing mutual committees focused on improving bilateral cooperation and collaboration. This remarkable collaboration demonstrates a commitment to find solutions to common challenges and build a more secure and prosperous region. The discussions included a commitment to uphold the rights of Palestinian refugees, which Al-Sharaa’s government has historically granted, except for voting and running for office.
Reps. Cory Mills of Florida and Marlin Stutzman of Indiana on a bipartisan trip to Damascus. They had substantive discussions with Al-Sharaa to deepen their diplomatic inquiries. Mills commented on the value of seeing the crisis firsthand, saying,
“It’s very important to come here to be able to see it for myself, to be with various governmental bodies, to look at the needs of the Syrian people, to look at the needs for the nation for stability.”
Unfortunately, the Trump administration has not officially recognized Al-Sharaa or his interim government, making engagement tricky. There is an increasing demand to reexamine U.S. policies that support the isolation of Syria and its regime. Syrian American Alliance for Peace and Prosperity Both countries would benefit from a more substantial partnership. Crucially, they focus on building durable political, economic, and social connections.
At that meeting, Hind Kabawat, Syrian Minister of Social Affairs and Labor, emphasized the significance of such diplomatic initiatives. She called them “absolutely essential” for building trust and relationships that would ultimately lead to more fruitful collaboration down the line.
Negotiations among the different stakeholders continue. Everyone is closely watching how all these diplomatic moves will realign the larger geopolitical landscape. The future of sanctions and U.S. recognition of Al-Sharaa’s government is at stake, as Mills explained,
“Ultimately, it’s going to be the president’s decision.”