Syria

The fall of the Assad regime has not only reopened Syria to regional reintegration but also exposed the fragmented ambitions of Gulf powers seeking to shape its future.

As the U.S. government begins lifting sanctions on Syria, the key questions will focus on the speed and scope of reconstruction and whether the Syrian government can meet accelerating expectations.

The lifting of U.S. sanctions could pave the way for the eventual return of oil and gas revenue for Syria, but the road to recovery will be long.

While recent violence and the failure to get sanctions lifted are huge challenges, the agreement with the Syrian Democratic Forces to integrate into state institutions helps Syria’s beleaguered interim government regain its footing.

Syria’s new leaders will need to evolve again and become a movement that speaks to the aspirations of all the Syrian people and addresses their pressing economic concerns and their need for rebuilt, responsive, representative institutions of governance and security.

For Syria to have a chance at stability, the United States and the EU need to urgently consider lifting the layers of economic sanctions imposed on Syria under Assad and allow Gulf countries to help rebuild the war-torn country.

Given how Syria after 2011 became a cockpit for external intervention in domestic affairs, the early signs this time for engagement of Gulf states appear more promising, particularly due to their ability to convene and lead in regional affairs.

On February 4, AGSIW hosted a discussion on the collapse of the Assad regime and the future of Syria.