Syrian President Ahmed Al-Sharaa addressed the Atlantic Council’s Front Page conversation in New York on Tuesday (22 Sep), on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly, discussing Syria’s foreign policy, regional security and relations with Israel and the United States.
Al-Sharaa said Israel’s policies towards Syria should not be based solely on the 7 October 2023 attacks by Hamas on Israel, while discussing the humanitarian consequences of the war in Gaza. He said “it is not possible that all policies are set based on an incident that happened in history” and called for “mutual respect” between countries.
The Syrian president criticised Israeli military operations in Syria, saying that “if you want to protect your own security, you need to respect the security of others”, while calling for greater economic cooperation and diplomatic engagement across the region.
Al-Sharaa also praised US President Donald Trump’s decision to lift sanctions on Syria and reaffirmed Syria’s position that the Golan Heights “is owned by its own people”, rejecting the idea that external leaders can determine its status.
As Syria enters a new phase of political transition, Al-Sharaa’s remarks reflect the wider challenge of balancing domestic reconstruction with regional diplomacy. The country’s ability to rebuild institutions, restore economic stability and attract international engagement will depend on how it navigates relationships with neighbouring states and global powers.
Syria’s reintegration into regional affairs remains closely tied to questions of security, sovereignty and governance, making its transition a significant factor in the future balance of power in the Middle East.
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