Syria’s Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shibani is poised to make a significant appearance at the UN headquarters in New York, where he will participate in a Security Council briefing. This visit marks the first time a senior Syrian government official has visited the United States since the fall of former President Bashar al-Assad last December.
New flag, new beginnings for Syria
The backdrop for this momentous occasion is the new three-starred flag, which has replaced the two-starred emblem associated with the Assad regime. This flag was previously used by opposition groups during the prolonged civil conflict and now symbolizes the current government’s aspirations for a renewed international presence.
In a bid to alleviate the stringent sanctions imposed by the US and its allies during Assad’s violent crackdown on dissent in 2011, the new authorities in Damascus have been actively seeking engagement with Washington. A delegation of Syrian officials made their way to the US this week to participate in meetings with the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund in Washington, as well as discussions at the UN in New York.
Ongoing discussions on sanctions and normalization
It remains uncertain whether officials from the Trump administration will have any interactions with al-Shibani during this visit, especially considering that the administration has yet to formally recognize the current Syrian government, headed by Ahmad al-Sharaa, a former Islamist insurgent who played a pivotal role in the uprising against Assad.
While sanctions against Syria remain primarily intact, temporary relief has been granted in certain areas. The militant organization led by al-Sharaa, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, continues to be designated as a terrorist entity by the United States.
In a notable development, two Republican congressmen, Marlin Stutzman of Indiana and Cory Mills of Florida, recently visited Damascus on an unofficial trip organized by a Syrian-American non-profit. They engaged with al-Sharaa and other officials, with Mills commenting that “ultimately, it’s going to be the president’s decision” regarding potential sanctions relief, although he noted that “Congress can advise.”
“We discussed the US conditions for sanctions relief,” Mills later stated, highlighting key issues such as the dismantling of chemical weapons remnants from the Assad era and counter-terrorism coordination.
Mills also conveyed that al-Sharaa indicated a willingness to normalize relations with Israel “under the right conditions,” although specific details were not disclosed.
Meanwhile, several Western nations have been more quick to establish relations with the new Syrian authorities. For instance, the British government recently lifted sanctions against numerous Syrian entities, including various government departments and media organizations. Additionally, the European Union has initiated a reduction of certain energy and transportation sanctions, particularly suspending measures that affect oil, gas, and electricity, as well as transport sectors like aviation.