In a significant diplomatic effort, Syria’s newly appointed foreign minister convened with his Qatari counterpart and the Qatari prime minister in Doha on Sunday. This meeting marks an important step as Syria’s ruling authority, led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), seeks to establish and strengthen diplomatic relations with nations in the region and beyond.
Asaad al-Shibani, the foreign minister, announced on social media that he is also planning visits to Jordan and the United Arab Emirates to foster strategic partnerships aimed at assisting Syria’s security situation and economic revitalization. His recent engagements include a meeting with the Saudi foreign minister in Riyadh earlier this week, followed by discussions with foreign ministers from Germany and France in Damascus.
HTS orchestrated a rapid insurgency that led to the ousting of President Bashar Assad on December 8, effectively ending a dynastic rule that had lasted decades. From 2011 until Assad’s removal, the uprising and subsequent civil war resulted in the tragic loss of approximately 500,000 lives in Syria.
The global community largely severed diplomatic relations with Assad due to his violent suppression of protests and imposed sanctions on him, along with his allies from Russia and Iran. Under the current Islamist governance, Syria is working towards reestablishing these diplomatic ties and lifting sanctions against HTS and its leader, Ahmad al-Sharaa, with hopes of revitalizing the country’s struggling economy. Assad had received military support from Russia, Iran, and the Lebanese group Hezbollah, but HTS is now focused on enhancing connections with Arab nations.
Qatar was previously an advocate for opposition forces that opposed Assad, and it remains one of the few Arab states that have been hesitant to restore relations with the previous Syrian administration or support its reintegration into the Arab League in 2023. Al-Shibani, as reported by Syrian radio, conveyed to Qatari officials the dire economic challenges posed by the sanctions against the Syrian populace, calling on the United States to consider lifting these restrictions.
The United Nations reports that nearly 90% of the Syrian population now lives in poverty, with over half of the people uncertain about where their next meal will originate.
In a bid to create a unified political direction, Al-Sharaa has proposed organizing a national dialogue summit, inviting various factions from across Syria to collaborate on establishing a new political framework leading to constitutional reforms and upcoming elections. He has expressed intentions to disband HTS during the summit, emphasizing in an interview with Saudi television that the ruling authorities share a common political background, which is essential for effective governance in this transitional phase.
Nevertheless, it remains uncertain if the U.S. will soon reconsider its sanctions policy, and European nations appear to be cautious due to concerns regarding the treatment of religious minorities and women’s rights under the current regime.
