There is no doubt that the successive decisions by major powers and international organizations to lift sanctions on Syria represent a significant step within the broader transformations the country is undergoing in this new era. These began with the UK’s decision in April 2025 to unfreeze assets linked to the Syrian Ministries of Defense and Interior, as well as several intelligence agencies, followed by President Donald Trump’s announcement during his Gulf tour in May 2025 to lift US sanctions on Syria, and culminating with the European Union’s decision in the same context on May 20 of that year.

It is undeniable that the economy often leads politics; Syria’s ability to economically reconnect with the outside world and attract investment is a cornerstone for achieving stability. However, the key question remains: are these international moves sufficient to ensure the success of Syria’s current transition?

Economic security is indeed a strategic interest at both the domestic and regional levels. Yet, Syria now faces interlinked challenges across three key spheres:

1. The Domestic Sphere:

The new government must tackle several pressing issues. A persistent dilemma in such contexts is whether the priority should be security, politics, or economics. Improving living standards and ensuring citizens’ basic needs is vital, but it must go hand-in-hand with achieving security—an area fraught with challenges, including confronting remnants of the former regime and dealing with thousands of foreign fighters from 18 countries. Politically, the transformation must include all components of Syrian society to avoid any pretext for foreign intervention under the guise of “protecting minorities,” as hinted at by recent European warnings that sanctions could be reinstated if minority rights and democratic reforms are not respected. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio also warned that “Syria could be just weeks away from a potential collapse and a full-scale civil war,” demanding swift action by the new Syrian administration to preserve national unity and avert such scenarios, with the backing of regional and global actors.

2. The Regional Sphere:

Syria shares over 2,000 kilometers of borders with five neighboring countries: Turkey, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, and Israel. Its stability is crucial for regional stability. Yet, geopolitics complicates the picture, as some of these neighboring states pursue distinct interests within Syrian territory. While Syrian land must not be used as a launchpad for threats, this concern should not justify infringing on Syria’s sovereignty or using Syrian territory for competing regional projects, including military bases or buffer zones. Syria lies at a strategic crossroads, and any deterioration in its security could reignite broader regional conflicts involving both states and non-state actors. A promising initiative is Turkey’s proposal to form a joint regional counterterrorism group including Turkey, Iraq, Jordan, Syria, and Lebanon. If these states agree, it could provide a valuable regional mechanism to fight terrorism, which has previously prompted the formation of coalitions such as the 2014 International Coalition against ISIS. Such coordination would also help prevent these neighbors from independently pursuing conflicting agendas in Syria—something that risks prolonging Syria’s transition, as evidenced in Libya.

3. The International Sphere:

Syria’s global relations hinge largely on both the United States and Russia. While lifting decades-old sanctions marks a turning point, media reports indicate that President Trump presented Syria’s administration with five key demands:

• Join the Abraham Accords;
• Expel foreign fighters from Syrian territory;
• Deport members of armed Palestinian groups;
• Assist the US in preventing the resurgence of ISIS;
• Assume responsibility for ISIS detainees in northeastern Syria.

Whether these constitute formal US conditions for lifting sanctions or benchmarks for future relations, they intersect with deeply political and security-sensitive issues that Syria must confront. Moreover, Russia’s continued military presence and its declared ongoing dialogue with the new Syrian leadership add further complexity. Though US–Russia tensions over Syria may be limited, other stakeholders—especially the EU and states with vital interests in Syria—will also shape the international response. The real challenge for Syria lies in managing these relationships to stabilize the country, meet its urgent transitional needs, and avoid turning international attention into harmful geopolitical competition—a fate shared by other regional conflicts.

From a historical perspective, where Europe faced and overcame crises sequentially, Syria now faces multiple intertwined challenges simultaneously—economic recovery, development, national security, and international diplomacy.

Clear frameworks for transformation, inclusive participation, and effective management of regional and global partnerships are essential for steering Syria toward stability—thereby contributing to broader regional security.

Many mechanisms exist to support countries in transition, including “donor conferences” and “Friends of Syria/Libya” initiatives, which aim to mobilize international financial assistance for reconstruction. Syria now urgently needs such support to secure its peace and rebuild.

Note: This article has been automatically translated, the full article is available in Arabic.