‘Syria Is Coming Back’: Rhetoric Versus Reality
By Ola Rifai
9/26/2025
On September 24th, a giant screen lit up Umayyad Square in Damascus, live-streaming President Al-Sharaa’s address at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA). Hundreds of Syrians gathered, cheering and waving flags in what felt like a victorious moment, one not seen in over half a century. It was the first time in nearly 60 years that a Syrian president addressed the UNGA, symbolizing not only a diplomatic breakthrough but, for many, the symbolic resurrection of a country once buried under rubble, war, and mass graves.
The celebratory atmosphere in Umayyad Square echoed scenes from the weeks following Bashar al-Assad’s fall; people dancing in the streets, chanting slogans, and waving Syrian flags. One video captured an elderly woman dancing near a massive banner beside the screen, which read in Arabic: “Syria Is Coming Back” (Souriya Ta‘oud).
Indeed, President Al-Sharaa’s visit to New York marks an unprecedented moment in Syria’s foreign policy, one that also signals a dramatic shift in his personal political transformation. His emotionally charged and poetic speech at the UNGA, combined with high-profile meetings and photo-ops with world leaders—including Donald Trump, Emmanuel Macron, and Spain’s King Felipe—created scenes unimaginable just months prior. Less than a year ago, few Syrians could have dreamed of such visibility and diplomatic engagement.
Geopolitical Realignment After Assad’s Fall
The shift in Syria’s foreign policy is one of several transformations that have taken place since the collapse of the Assad regime on December 8th. For over six decades—spanning the rule of both Assad father and son—Syria maintained a consistent alignment with the Eastern bloc, in stark contrast to neighboring countries like Jordan and Lebanon, which historically leaned toward the West.
The dramatic fall of the Assad regime triggered a seismic realignment, not only within Syria but across the broader regional and international order. Yet this shift was not solely the result of domestic political change. Global geopolitical dynamics, including the war in Ukraine and escalating conflicts in Gaza and Lebanon, played a significant role.
Russia and Iran—the primary backers of the Assad regime—faced mounting challenges. Russia’s focus shifted toward Ukraine, straining its military commitments in Syria. Iran, already isolated, saw its regional proxy Hezbollah significantly weakened. The Assad–Hezbollah–Iran axis, which had long propped up the regime, effectively unraveled. As Moscow began to see Syria more as a bargaining chip in negotiations with the West than a strategic priority, Damascus found itself looking toward new alliances. In this geopolitical vacuum, a pivot toward the West began to take shape.
Domestic Implications of a ‘New’ Foreign Policy
This foreign policy reorientation is not without significant domestic consequences. Aligning with the West could bolster President Al-Sharaa’s legitimacy and strengthen his grip on power. After years of war and international isolation, many Syrians are eager for peace, stability, and a sense of normalcy.
However, the road ahead is fraught with challenges; chief among them, the balancing act between foreign policy interests and internal political realities. Nowhere is this tension more visible than in Syria’s negotiations with Israel.
For the first time, Syrian officials are engaged in direct talks with their Israeli counterparts. These discussions, once unthinkable and typically concealed from public discourse, have now been acknowledged openly by Syrian state media, which reported on a proposed “security agreement” with Israel.
President Al-Sharaa and senior officials have been quick to clarify that these are not peace negotiations. The focus, they insist, is purely on security-specifically, a return to the 1974 disengagement lines. Nevertheless, the mere acknowledgment of talks with Israel marks a significant shift, and one that risks backlash at home.
Public opinion remains firmly opposed to normalization with Israel. Al-Sharaa is well aware that any perceived concession could threaten his legitimacy. At the same time, he understands that economic recovery—his stated priority—may depend on improved regional stability, including security arrangements with Israel.
Standing at a Crossroads: Identity, Legitimacy, and Peace
Al Sharaa stands at a critical crossroads. On one side lies the promise of economic development and international rehabilitation. On the other, the risk of alienating a domestic audience deeply rooted in Arab nationalist sentiment and the Palestinian cause.
Unlike the Assad regime—which often instrumentalized Arabism and the Palestinian cause for its own survival—many Syrians continue to hold these values sincerely. Arab identity remains a foundational layer of the national consciousness. President Al-Sharaa himself has acknowledged that the primary motivation behind his involvement in the 2003 Iraq war was rooted in Arab nationalist sentiment, rather than religious ideology.
To ignore these sentiments would be politically dangerous. Al-Sharaa appeared acutely aware of this when he concluded his UNGA speech by repeating three times that the Syrian people stand firmly with the people of Gaza.
His visit to New York may have successfully portrayed him as a man of peace and progress, projecting the image of a leader committed to rebuilding Syria and restoring its place on the world stage. Yet diplomatic success abroad will mean little if Syria fails to reconcile internally.
The Real Test: Rebuilding Trust and Social Cohesion
Syria’s true “comeback” will not be defined by international speeches, photo-ops, investment deals, or economic gains. It will be measured by the country’s ability to rebuild its social contract and restore trust between the state and its people.
Years of war, sectarian fragmentation, and mass displacement have left deep scars. Healing these wounds and rebuilding cohesion among Syria’s diverse religious and ethnic communities is a monumental task that must be embedded at the heart of any state-building process.
Economic development and security are essential, but they are not enough. Without genuine national reconciliation and inclusive governance, the narrative of “Syria is coming back” will remain just that a narrative, not a reality.
Syria will only truly be “coming back” when it returns not just to the global stage, but to its own people.