BEIRUT — On Saturday, Syria’s President Ahmad al-Sharaa embarked on a diplomatic visit to Bahrain where he engaged in discussions with King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa regarding the enhancement of bilateral relations and pressing regional issues. This marks al-Sharaa’s latest international engagement since assuming the presidency in January.
According to Syria’s state media agency, President al-Sharaa is accompanied by a high-ranking delegation as he visits Bahrain, a Gulf nation that had sustained relations with the former President Bashar Assad until he was ousted in early December. The discussions focused not only on strengthening mutual ties but also on regional matters and bolstering Syria’s security and stability.
This visit is notably strategic as it occurs just days before an anticipated visit by U.S. President Donald Trump, who plans to meet with leaders of Gulf Arab nations. These diplomatic movements highlight Syria’s new leadership efforts to reconnect and realign within the region.
Since taking office, al-Sharaa has prioritized building relations with several Arab and regional countries including Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, and Turkey. Most recently, he ventured to Europe for the first time, meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris where he revealed Syria’s ongoing indirect communications with Israel.
Following the decline of Assad’s regime, there has been a collective call from Syria and its neighboring countries to lift the Western sanctions that were imposed during the early stages of the 2011 conflict. Removing these sanctions could potentially pave the way for affluent Arab nations to contribute to Syria’s extensive reconstruction needs resulting from the war, which has claimed nearly half a million lives.
In 2017, United Nations assessments estimated reconstruction costs at approximately $250 billion. However, informed experts now suggest that the figure might have escalated to at least $400 billion, emphasizing the financial magnitude of the task at hand.
Additionally, commitments by Saudi Arabia and Qatar to settle Syria’s debt to the World Bank signal a positive shift that could see the international financial institution revive its support for Syria’s redevelopment.
Since Assad’s departure, and with the dissolution of close Iranian ties, the new Syrian governance is steadfastly working to improve its rapport with Arab and Western countries, marking a significant shift in the nation’s foreign relations strategy.