As Syria returns to the world stage, Ahmad al-Sharaa navigates diplomacy, sanctions, and internal strife

The appearance of Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa at the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly last night marked a landmark moment in international diplomacy, symbolising Syria’s return to the global community after nearly six decades of isolation. His visit, the first by a Syrian head of state since Noureddine Attasi addressed the UN in 1967, was also al-Sharaa’s high-stakes debut as a world leader, marked by an intriguing mix of political transformation, urgent reconstruction demands and unresolved internal divisions.

Al-Sharaa came to power after leading a lightning insurgent offensive that ended the Assad family’s rule last December. His challenge now is to project the image of a statesman while managing delicate regional diplomacy and asserting authority at home. 

His transformation from insurgent commander to president is striking. Known earlier by the nom de guerre Abu Mohammed al-Jolani while serving as the former head of the Islamist rebel group Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), he had once been affiliated with al-Qaida and carried a US bounty of $10 million. In New York, however, he abandoned military fatigues for a tailored suit and embarked on what observers described as a carefully crafted charm offensive.

His standing has been strengthened by high-level American engagement. He held meetings with President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, following an earlier encounter with Trump in Saudi Arabia in May. At the time, Trump described him as a tough and attractive figure, signalling Washington’s support and paving the way for historic sanctions relief. Senior US officials have acknowledged privately that they see al-Sharaa as the best available option to prevent Syria sliding back into civil war, admitting there is no alternative plan.

In his UNGA speech, al-Sharaa focused on projecting the image of what he called the new Syria and addressing the country’s battered economy. He declared that Syria was reclaiming its rightful place in the world after six decades of dictatorship. A central element of his agenda is the push to remove sanctions, especially those imposed under the Caesar Syria Civilian Protection Act of 2019. He argued that such measures shackle the Syrian people and that lifting them is essential for recovery. He also promised to dismantle the Captagon drug trade, a multi-billion-dollar industry developed under the Assad regime to circumvent sanctions.

Yet, the spotlight on New York also underscored Syria’s volatile internal situation. Despite al-Sharaa’s promises of inclusivity, key minority groups remain worried as on the ground, his former colleagues from the HTS wield actual power. Sectarian violence has broken out since the fall of the old regime, with atrocities reported against Alawite and Druze communities in the coastal region and in Sweida province, leaving hundreds dead.

Protests outside the UN highlighted this division. While some Syrians abroad hailed the end of dictatorship and a chance to turn the page, others denounced him as a former al-Qaida member unfit for leadership.

On transitional justice, al-Sharaa announced that Syria had formed fact-finding missions and invited the UN to investigate killings that occurred this year. He pledged to hold perpetrators accountable, but scepticism persists inside the country. Many Syrians complain of a lack of transparency, noting that the government has avoided providing public updates until investigations are concluded, which they see as a tactic to delay justice.

Al-Sharaa also addressed relations with Israel. He criticised Israeli policies and military actions, claiming they undermined international support for Syria. He called for a return to the 1974 disengagement agreement and said security negotiations were underway. At the same time, he dismissed the possibility of Syria joining the US-backed Abraham Accords, citing Israeli airstrikes and the ongoing war in Gaza. He argued that Syria, as Israel’s neighbour, had suffered numerous incursions and therefore could not contemplate normalisation.

Another source of tension lies in efforts to consolidate state authority. Al-Sharaa insisted that the state must maintain a monopoly on arms and pressed both the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and the Druze “National Guard” to integrate into the national army. But integration has stalled, particularly with the SDF, raising the risk of renewed conflict or even a proxy war. He urged Washington to act as guarantor in any arrangement involving Israel.

Although al-Sharaa’s debut at the UN was successful in capitalising on the international desire for stability in Syria, without genuine efforts to address territorial divisions, sectarian violence, the fraught issue of transitional justice and the desperate needs of a population still recovering from years of war and economic collapse, Syria’s fragile new beginning could quickly unravel.