Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa's meteoric rise as a diplomat has earned him widespread international acclaim. Since taking office in January 2025, he has embarked on an unprecedented global tour, visiting 13 countries and addressing numerous high-level gatherings, including the UN General Assembly and climate change conferences. This whirlwind of activity suggests that Sharaa is determined to capitalize on the wave of goodwill surrounding his country's rebirth.
The extent of this goodwill was underscored by a remarkable display of unity at the UN Security Council, where all 15 members gathered in Damascus to mark the anniversary of the fall of Bashar al-Assad. This rare show of unity marked a significant shift in the long-standing divisions that have plagued the council since 2011.
However, as with any great promise, there are concerns that Sharaa's success will ultimately be measured by his ability to deliver tangible results for the Syrian people. The influx of Gulf investment, including pledges from Saudi Arabia and Qatar worth over $6 billion, has provided a welcome injection of capital into the struggling economy. Yet, critics warn that such progress is contingent on Sharaa's commitment to internal reconciliation and trust-building, rather than his extremist past.
One potential sticking point in Sharaa's efforts to rebuild Syria is his handling of the country's relationship with neighboring Israel. Despite assurances from US President Donald Trump that Washington will maintain a strong dialogue with Damascus, tensions remain high, with Israel increasingly convinced that Islamist groups are planning terrorist attacks from Syrian territory.
In the north, Sharaa faces another challenge in integrating Kurdish fighters into the Syrian national army, as Turkey seeks to prevent the SDF from becoming too autonomous. The situation is further complicated by Turkish efforts to negotiate a peace deal with the PKK's leader, Abdullah Öcalan, which could potentially undermine Sharaa's own security plans.
Ultimately, Syria's perilous path back to sovereignty will depend on Sharaa's ability to balance competing external pressures while delivering meaningful reforms for his country's people. As the international community continues to watch with bated breath, one thing is clear: Sharaa must prove that he can translate goodwill into tangible results if he is to truly succeed as Syria's leader.
The extent of this goodwill was underscored by a remarkable display of unity at the UN Security Council, where all 15 members gathered in Damascus to mark the anniversary of the fall of Bashar al-Assad. This rare show of unity marked a significant shift in the long-standing divisions that have plagued the council since 2011.
However, as with any great promise, there are concerns that Sharaa's success will ultimately be measured by his ability to deliver tangible results for the Syrian people. The influx of Gulf investment, including pledges from Saudi Arabia and Qatar worth over $6 billion, has provided a welcome injection of capital into the struggling economy. Yet, critics warn that such progress is contingent on Sharaa's commitment to internal reconciliation and trust-building, rather than his extremist past.
One potential sticking point in Sharaa's efforts to rebuild Syria is his handling of the country's relationship with neighboring Israel. Despite assurances from US President Donald Trump that Washington will maintain a strong dialogue with Damascus, tensions remain high, with Israel increasingly convinced that Islamist groups are planning terrorist attacks from Syrian territory.
In the north, Sharaa faces another challenge in integrating Kurdish fighters into the Syrian national army, as Turkey seeks to prevent the SDF from becoming too autonomous. The situation is further complicated by Turkish efforts to negotiate a peace deal with the PKK's leader, Abdullah Öcalan, which could potentially undermine Sharaa's own security plans.
Ultimately, Syria's perilous path back to sovereignty will depend on Sharaa's ability to balance competing external pressures while delivering meaningful reforms for his country's people. As the international community continues to watch with bated breath, one thing is clear: Sharaa must prove that he can translate goodwill into tangible results if he is to truly succeed as Syria's leader.
I mean, come on 13 countries in one year? That's just a bunch of empty smiles and handshakes. What about the people who actually live there? The ones still dealing with all that chaos and bloodshed? 
This Gulf investment is just a Band-Aid on a much deeper wound, if you ask me.
How can Sharaa possibly fix that? It's like he's trying to put a square peg in a round hole. I'm not convinced this guy has any real plan for the future of Syria, just a bunch of PR stunts to keep everyone happy. 
. Can't we just focus on one aspect without jumping to conclusions about the whole country? I mean, sure Ahmed al-Sharaa's diplomatic skills are impressive and all that 
, but what about the human cost of his rise to power? Like, how many innocent lives have been lost in Syria already? It feels like we're just sugarcoating everything with a thick layer of goodwill 
.
. $6 billion from Saudi Arabia and Qatar sounds nice on paper, but what's being done to address the actual issues that have plagued Syria for years? Is it just going to be a Band-Aid solution or are they actually investing in real reforms?
. That just sounds like a cop-out. Shouldn't we be holding him accountable for his own actions and commitments, rather than trying to navigate the complexities of international politics? It's always easier to point fingers at external factors when it suits our narrative 
.
I'm still in awe of how far Ahmed al-Sharaa has come. I mean, from being a diplomat to a global superstar overnight 
. I've been following his journey since he took office, and I gotta say, his message of hope and unity is really resonating with people worldwide.
. He just needs to translate that into tangible results for the Syrian people, and I have no doubt he can do it 
.
, especially since it's easy to look good in a crowd. I mean, who doesn't love a shiny new face with a smile that can light up a room? 
Still, I guess it's nice to see some progress, especially if it means the economy is getting a bit of a boost 
He's basically been on this massive global tour, visiting 13 countries and addressing huge gatherings like the UN General Assembly... it's like he's trying to capitalize on everyone feeling good about Syria's rebirth 
.
. Turkey's also trying to negotiate a peace deal with the Kurdish fighters, which could potentially mess up Sharaa's security plans 
. If Sharaa can prove that goodwill translates to real results, he might just become a credible leader... but if not, it could be a long and bumpy road ahead 
and then there's the kurdish situation, sdf wanna be independent but turkey's all like nope, thats gonna cause problems for sharaa 
or else it'll be hard for him to deliver on his promises 
.
. Until we see some real action on these fronts, I'm skeptical about al-Sharaa's abilities to deliver on his promises.
. integrating kurdish fighters into the army seems like a massive undertaking, and with turkey's involvement, i'm not sure even sharaa can navigate that minefield without some major setbacks 
. But for real though, it's cool to see all these countries coming together at the UN General Assembly and stuff. It shows that even with all the drama in Syria, people still want to work towards peace and unity.
. Wish him luck! 
. and let's not forget about israel - that's like, two major issues right there 
. i guess what i'm saying is, sharaa needs to keep his priorities straight and make sure those reforms are real, you know? 
. don't get me wrong, it's good that syria is getting some much-needed investment and international backing... but what about the people on the ground? they're still dealing with all sorts of problems like poverty, displacement, and lack of access to basic services 
. i'm guessing sharaa's got some tough decisions ahead of him and it'll be interesting to see how he navigates all the competing interests and pressures 
On the other hand, maybe he is making a big deal out of everything? 
, but at the same time, I've got some concerns 
. The fact that all UN Security Council members showed up in Damascus was a big deal 
. Can't just rely on goodwill; gotta make real changes that benefit the Syrian people 
. But let's not get ahead of ourselves, Sharaa's gotta deliver on the promises he's making. It's one thing to have the world cheering you on, but another to actually make progress on reforming Syria's economy and government 
. I'm not sure how much more diplomatic wrangling we're gonna see before something gives 
. And the Kurdish fighters - Turkey's got some heavy hands in the region, and it's hard to see how Sharaa can navigate that without alienating either side 
... like, what's really driving his decisions and not just what's best for his country? 
... is it just a case of "let's help syria get back on its feet" or is there somethin more to it? 
What really matters is how he addresses the structural issues plaguing the economy and not just relies on foreign aid 