After more than a month of the new administration taking over the reins of political and administrative affairs in Damascus and appointing temporarily the Salvation Government, we can say that its performance in general is effective. But it is difficult to talk about specific strategies that Damascus is following, as the situation is still in its early stages.
In addition to this, there is the legacy of devastation and destruction of all state institutions and cities left by the Assad regime. However, what is noticeable in the political performance of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the new political administration is that it is disciplined and balanced. It is under a vision acceptable to many in the world. This was clear from the statements made by officials who visited Damascus or who were visited by (Syria’s) Minister of Foreign Affairs, Asaad Al-Shaibani. We find that there were positive results from these visits.
This is in addition to the Arab and international conference held by Saudi Arabia in its capital, Riyadh, to achieve stability for Syria and support it after the fall of the Assad regime. Saudi Arabia also made a bridge of humanitarian aid to support the Syrian people. Qatar was the first to send humanitarian aid planes to Damascus. This was about Gulf. But at another (non-Arab) level, Al-Shaibani’s visited Türkiye after his tour of the Arab Gulf states. It was expected due to Ankara’s magnificent support for the Syrian opposition since the beginning of the Syrian revolution. It extended political support for the new Syrian administration. It established itself as a political interlocutor for the international community. It demanded the end of the sanctions imposed on Syria to rebuild it and revive bilateral trade with it.
Türkiye is giving full support to Damascus to regain control over all Syrian territories and reject SDF’s attempts to exploit the situation to establish an independent entity for itself. Ankara has also demanded Israel to leave the territories it entered in southern Syria. Turkey also showed its readiness to re-train the Syrian army if it is formed. These positive results so far came because of good approaches adopted by the Syrian Foreign Ministry and a realistic reading of the balance of power in the region and good coordination in relations between those powers.
The Syrian officials’ foreign visits, which began with the Gulf is an affirmation of Syria’s Arab affiliation and its knowledge of the extent of the influence of those countries on the US. Although it is too early to judge the success of this foreign policy, the initial indicators give a good impression. The first visits made by Foreign Minister Al-Shaibani showed that this new administration is fully aware of the political changes taking place in the region and in the world. It also showed that it is aware of the keys that must be used to open the economic and political doors of the West.
The situation in Syria is unlike any of the surrounding countries. Its geographical location has placed it between two of the largest powers in the region: Türkiye to the north and Israel to the south. The competition between these two countries has begun to turn into a conflict between them, as was evident on the issue of the Syrian territory. Israel supports the SDF and Türkiye supports the government and political administration in Damascus. This is reflected in the unstable situation on the ground so far between the SDF and Damascus. Al-Shaibani’s first visit to Saudi Arabia can be to form a strong political bloc between the Gulf states and Türkiye to pressure the SDF.
[by Firas Oglo in Syria TV]
Compiled and translated by Faizul Haque