TEHRAN – Syrian President Ahmed al-Shara (also known as Abu Mohamad al-Julani) has launched a controversial diplomatic campaign to secure US sanctions relief and proposed Trump Towers in Damascus and Detente with Israel.
After nearly 14 years of civil war, the strategy illustrates a hopeless attempt to stabilize the society that has shattered Syria’s collapsed economy and society. However, Sharaa’s actions reveal the weakness of his leadership and represent a humiliating surrender. It expresses his willingness to engage with Israel and US President Donald Trump in the face of Israeli and Israeli airstrikes.
Syria’s serious economic situation has been exacerbated by US sanctions that cut Damascus off the international financial system, and is the basis of Shara’s approach to Trump. In line with Trump’s business-oriented image, his plan for the Trump Tower in Damascus is a symbolic act of Syria accepting American influence and investment.
Pro Trump American activist Jonathan Bass, who met Alsharaa in Damascus on April 30, described the campaign as a bid for “business deals for the future of his country.” Bass emphasized that Alshara wanted peace with his neighbors and saw his personal connection with Trump and noted that both leaders had survived the “attempt to assassinate.”
The idea for a gorgeous Trump branded building in war-torn Damascus, where millions of people live in poverty and basic infrastructure, underscores the gap between Shara’s goals and Syrian needs.
Controversial engagement with Israel amid ongoing airstrikes
Shara’s efforts to ease tensions with Israel are still highly controversial, especially in light of Israel’s ongoing airstrikes within Syria, including near the Presidential Palace. These attacks reveal the weakness of Shara’s position, despite Israel presenting them as steps to protect the Druze community and combating the threat of extremists. Sharaa has granted consultations on indirect de-escalation with Israel, mediated through the United Arab Emirates.
Bass claimed that Sharaa facilitated conversations that may have led to face-to-face discussions. However, Israel’s ongoing airstrikes imply that these diplomatic attempts have failed. Sharaa risks being considered weak by holding consultations while shocked.
Importantly, Sharaa’s policy has degraded Syria by raising external recognition rather than internal unity.
His legitimacy is complicated by his history as a US affiliated with al-Qaeda and a designated terrorist, and the transition to Western and Israeli involvement alienates Syrians, particularly Syrians, who have been punished, looted, occupying parts of their land and continuing to attack the country. Shara’s reliability is further undermined by the US’s assessment that Damascus fails to meet sanctions relief requirements, such as expelling foreign fighter jets and destroying chemical weapons.
Scepticism about Sharaa’s intentions is demonstrated by Washington’s emphasis on counterterrorism. This has been demonstrated in recent discussions with Syrian Foreign Minister Asad al-Shabani, with the participation of top counterterrorism officials. Therefore, Sharaa is forced to make a series of compromises that reduces negotiation leverage in Syria.
Security challenges and risks of fragmentation
Furthermore, the context of Sharaa’s overture is Israeli invasion and sectarian violence, both of which he does not properly address. Druze’s opposition to Israel’s unilateral strike and Jaramana and Sweida’s disarmament demands illustrate its ability to protect or integrate Syrian diverse communities.
Sharaa risks further fragmentation by relying on the US administration to secure Syria by demanding Trump’s intervention to “settle this relationship” with Israel.
Shara’s proposals for Israel and Trump represent practical but despicable survival tactics. Trump Tower’s pitch and detention initiative convey despair and encourage foreign rule, despite its intention to provide financial relief. In the face of Israeli airstrikes and internal turmoil, Sharaa’s policies, in addition to being unable to restore its dignity, actively undermine Syrian sovereignty.