Ahmad al-Shara Reveals His First Foreign Destination

ALDAR/

In an interview with a Turkish channel following his effective assumption of power in Syria, the leader of the new Syrian administration, Ahmad al-Shara, revealed his first foreign moves. He confirmed in recent statements that he intends to visit either Turkey or Saudi Arabia as part of his efforts to strengthen foreign relations with active regional powers.

In a conversation with “A Haber” Turkish channel, al-Shara explained that Turkey is his likely first destination, expressing gratitude to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, who was among the first to congratulate him after he took power from President Bashar al-Assad on December 8. Al-Shara added, “The visit date has not been determined yet, but a visit to Turkey will be inevitable, and we may request support in our efforts to combat the terrorist ISIS organization.”

These statements come at a sensitive time, as the new Syrian administration under al-Shara is working to rebuild the Syrian state after years of war and destruction. Al-Shara mentioned that the new government is in the process of drafting a new constitution aimed at charting the next phase of the country, noting that there is optimism about the position of the new U.S. administration, which may reconsider the sanctions imposed on Syria.

On the other hand, Ahmad al-Shara, formerly known as Abu Mohammed al-Julani, has led Syrian opposition movements since opposition factions, led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), which he leads, managed to overthrow the Assad regime in a surprise attack at the end of last year. These political changes mark a critical turning point in Syria’s modern history, as al-Shara is now focused on establishing a new political system that completely overturns the dominance exercised by Assad.

The next steps seem extremely complex, as rebuilding Syria is no easy task after years of civil war that has inflicted massive damage on infrastructure and the economy. Nonetheless, the new Syrian administration appears determined to follow a difficult path that will require strategic alliances and support from neighboring countries and the international community to overcome multiple challenges.

It remains to be seen what the coming days will bring in terms of political and historical transformations in Syria under the new leadership, which has promised to create a new state that respects its citizens’ rights and rebuilds what has been destroyed.