"Development" is the buzzword being repeated by Syria's new president, Ahmed al-Sharaa. He has made it a top priority of his administration, positioning it as a gateway to reconnect Syria with the region, transforming it from a battlefield to an economic hub.
And it appears that al-Sharaa is ready to roll up his sleeves and back his promises with action. When I attended an exclusive Q&A with him, along with a few other selected Arab journalists, the Syrian president was clearly focused on discussing concrete issues—a stark departure from the tired slogans typical of politicians in our region.
Rebuilding bridges
A big part of this new strategy is promoting a policy of 'zero problems' with Syria's neighbours and repairing frayed relations. To this end, al-Sharaa called for turning a new page with Lebanon and has already met his Lebanese counterpart to take matters forward.
Syria's neighbours also stand to benefit from the economic momentum unfolding in the country. Al-Sharaa aims to weave the economic and geopolitical interests of regional states together—especially those of its neighbours—tying their stability to Syria's, thereby transforming the country from an arena of conflict to one of cooperation.
He spoke in detail about plans to connect the ports of Tartous and Latakia with other Arab harbours, export Iraqi oil through them, extend railways and gas pipelines from the Gulf to Türkiye, transform Syria into a hub for internet connectivity, and provide solutions for global supply chain disruptions.
