New De Facto Leader of Syria Advocates for Respectful Ties with Iran and Russia
In a recent interview with Al Arabiya, Ahmad al-Sharaa, the new de facto leader of Syria, expressed a cautious but hopeful stance toward rebuilding relations with significant regional players Iran and Russia. Al-Sharaa, who previously went by the name Abu Muhammad al-Jolani, emphasized the importance of mutual respect and noninterference in the sovereignty of both nations during his remarks.
The context of these statements is pivotal, as both Iran and Russia were key allies of the ousted President Bashar al-Assad, who fell from power following a rebel uprising in early December. There is a great deal of anticipation surrounding the nature of al-Sharaa's future diplomatic efforts, particularly in light of Western scrutiny of Syria's evolving political landscape.
Al-Sharaa articulated that while Syria cannot thrive without engagement with Iran, there is a pressing need for a reassessment of Tehran’s regional involvement. He highlighted that during the fight against Assad’s regime, opposition forces guarded Iranian assets despite acknowledging Iran's support for the ousted president. Al-Sharaa noted a lack of reciprocation from Iran that he expected following these defensive actions.
When addressing Russia, al-Sharaa indicated an aspiration for Russian forces to gradually withdraw from Syria. However, he reinforced the notion of deep-rooted strategic interests at stake and urged that any exit should not sever the vital relationship between Russia and Syria. He remarked, 'We don't want Russia to exit Syria in a way that undermines its relationship with the country,' underscoring the substantial reliance Syria has on Russian military hardware and expertise.
Current flight data suggests that Russia may be reducing its military footprint in Syria, transitioning its attention to other regions such as Africa, particularly Libya, Mali, and Sudan. This potential shift raises concerns for al-Sharaa, as the deep ties between Syria and Russia remain critical to the war-torn nation.
Amidst these developments, al-Sharaa also touched upon the internal restructuring of Syria, predicting that the organization of elections could extend to a four-year timeline, while a new constitution might take an additional three years to finalize.
Looking outward, al-Sharaa expressed optimism about the incoming U.S. administration under President Donald Trump, hoping for a reversal of sanctions imposed on Syria by previous regimes.
While the new leader aspires for more moderate policies regarding women’s rights and national reconciliation, global leaders remain apprehensive, insisting that tangible actions are necessary to evaluate the intentions of the new regime. As the international community keeps a watchful eye, the future geopolitical alignment of Syria remains uncertain.
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