Can Syria’s president turn wave of global goodwill into tangible results at home?

Sanctions, instability and external meddling are still problems for Ahmed al-Sharaa, one year after Assad’s fall

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If ubiquity and handshakes were the only measures of success, Ahmed al-Sharaa would be diplomat of the year.

Since he formally became president of Syria on 29 January 2025, the former leader of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham – a jihadist group with an al-Qaida lineage – has made a total of 21 public international trips to 13 countries. These include a visit to the UN general assembly, the climate change conference in Brazil, and numerous Arab summits.

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Original Article: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/dec/08/can-syria-president-ahmed-al-sharaa-turn-goodwill-into-tangible-results