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

Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa's meteoric rise as a diplomat has earned him widespread international acclaim. Since taking office in January 2025, he has embarked on an unprecedented global tour, visiting 13 countries and addressing numerous high-level gatherings, including the UN General Assembly and climate change conferences. This whirlwind of activity suggests that Sharaa is determined to capitalize on the wave of goodwill surrounding his country's rebirth.

The extent of this goodwill was underscored by a remarkable display of unity at the UN Security Council, where all 15 members gathered in Damascus to mark the anniversary of the fall of Bashar al-Assad. This rare show of unity marked a significant shift in the long-standing divisions that have plagued the council since 2011.

However, as with any great promise, there are concerns that Sharaa's success will ultimately be measured by his ability to deliver tangible results for the Syrian people. The influx of Gulf investment, including pledges from Saudi Arabia and Qatar worth over $6 billion, has provided a welcome injection of capital into the struggling economy. Yet, critics warn that such progress is contingent on Sharaa's commitment to internal reconciliation and trust-building, rather than his extremist past.

One potential sticking point in Sharaa's efforts to rebuild Syria is his handling of the country's relationship with neighboring Israel. Despite assurances from US President Donald Trump that Washington will maintain a strong dialogue with Damascus, tensions remain high, with Israel increasingly convinced that Islamist groups are planning terrorist attacks from Syrian territory.

In the north, Sharaa faces another challenge in integrating Kurdish fighters into the Syrian national army, as Turkey seeks to prevent the SDF from becoming too autonomous. The situation is further complicated by Turkish efforts to negotiate a peace deal with the PKK's leader, Abdullah Öcalan, which could potentially undermine Sharaa's own security plans.

Ultimately, Syria's perilous path back to sovereignty will depend on Sharaa's ability to balance competing external pressures while delivering meaningful reforms for his country's people. As the international community continues to watch with bated breath, one thing is clear: Sharaa must prove that he can translate goodwill into tangible results if he is to truly succeed as Syria's leader.

I'm so done with this guy... I mean, come on 13 countries in one year? That's just a bunch of empty smiles and handshakes. What about the people who actually live there? The ones still dealing with all that chaos and bloodshed? This Gulf investment is just a Band-Aid on a much deeper wound, if you ask me.

And don't even get me started on Israel... How can Sharaa possibly fix that? It's like he's trying to put a square peg in a round hole. I'm not convinced this guy has any real plan for the future of Syria, just a bunch of PR stunts to keep everyone happy.

Ugh, this article is all over the place . Can't we just focus on one aspect without jumping to conclusions about the whole country? I mean, sure Ahmed al-Sharaa's diplomatic skills are impressive and all that , but what about the human cost of his rise to power? Like, how many innocent lives have been lost in Syria already? It feels like we're just sugarcoating everything with a thick layer of goodwill .

And don't even get me started on the economy . $6 billion from Saudi Arabia and Qatar sounds nice on paper, but what's being done to address the actual issues that have plagued Syria for years? Is it just going to be a Band-Aid solution or are they actually investing in real reforms?

I'm also not buying the "Sharaa must balance competing external pressures" narrative . That just sounds like a cop-out. Shouldn't we be holding him accountable for his own actions and commitments, rather than trying to navigate the complexities of international politics? It's always easier to point fingers at external factors when it suits our narrative .

I'm still in awe of how far Ahmed al-Sharaa has come. I mean, from being a diplomat to a global superstar overnight ! But seriously, it's amazing to see him bringing countries together like that. That unity at the UN Security Council was pure magic . I've been following his journey since he took office, and I gotta say, his message of hope and unity is really resonating with people worldwide.

But as much as everyone's excited about the Gulf investment and progress being made, let's not forget that there are still so many challenges ahead for Sharaa and Syria. Like, what about the Kurdish fighters and Israel? Those are some tough issues to crack . I hope he can navigate them successfully without alienating too many groups.

I'm curious to see how this all plays out in the coming months and years. One thing's for sure, though – Sharaa's got a lot of goodwill working for him right now . He just needs to translate that into tangible results for the Syrian people, and I have no doubt he can do it .

I'm not surprised Sharaa's getting all the love , especially since it's easy to look good in a crowd. I mean, who doesn't love a shiny new face with a smile that can light up a room? But let's get real, his "meteoric rise" is probably just because he's really good at networking (or maybe even having some old connections work their magic). And don't even get me started on the whole UN Security Council thing - it's not like they were all waiting with bated breath for a miracle. We've seen this kind of unity before, and we know how it usually ends up... Still, I guess it's nice to see some progress, especially if it means the economy is getting a bit of a boost . The real question is, can he actually deliver on his promises?

So I'm reading about Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa and it's crazy how fast he's risen to the top! He's basically been on this massive global tour, visiting 13 countries and addressing huge gatherings like the UN General Assembly... it's like he's trying to capitalize on everyone feeling good about Syria's rebirth .

But the thing is, all these nice vibes are not guaranteed to lead to real change for the Syrian people. I mean, we've seen some decent investments from Gulf states and stuff, but what matters most is if Sharaa can actually make reforms happen . And with him coming from an extremist background, there's bound to be some concerns about whether he'll prioritize his own security plans or the needs of his people .

And then there's the Israel situation... it's getting pretty tense over here . Turkey's also trying to negotiate a peace deal with the Kurdish fighters, which could potentially mess up Sharaa's security plans . It's like, how does he balance all these external pressures and still deliver for his country?

Honestly, I'm keeping an eye on this situation because it feels like Syria is at this precarious crossroads where everything can go either way . If Sharaa can prove that goodwill translates to real results, he might just become a credible leader... but if not, it could be a long and bumpy road ahead

omg sharaa's gotta be careful with israel tho, i mean trump said they'd keep it chill but atm tensions are super high Israel thinks ISIS groups r planning attacks from syria, that's a big deal and then there's the kurdish situation, sdf wanna be independent but turkey's all like nope, thats gonna cause problems for sharaa he needs to get israel on board and kurdish fighters integrated into the army ASAP or else it'll be hard for him to deliver on his promises

I'm not sure how much I trust this guy al-Sharaa yet... all this sudden change of heart feels like it's just a PR stunt . Sure, it's cool that the UN Security Council came together in his honor and all that, but we need to see some real substance here, you know? He's not getting a free pass just because he's got everyone fooled with his smooth talking .

And let's be real, $6 billion from Saudi Arabia and Qatar is a drop in the bucket compared to what Syria really needs - economic reform and actual progress on corruption and human rights issues . I'm all for some goodwill vibes, but al-Sharaa needs to step up his game if he wants to keep up this charade.

And then there's the Israel thing... I mean, we've seen this movie before - good intentions are great, but when it comes down to it, what's going to get done? Turkey is already stirring up trouble with the Kurds and now they're trying to play peacemaker with the PKK? It's like Syria is stuck in some kind of international hot potato game . Until we see some real action on these fronts, I'm skeptical about al-Sharaa's abilities to deliver on his promises.

sharaa's diplomatic skills are undeniably impressive, but let's not forget his past actions - the whole "extremist" thing still lingers, and it's hard to shake off that feeling... at the same time, 6 billion from saudi arabia is a serious game-changer for syria's economy, so fingers crossed he doesn't mess it up . integrating kurdish fighters into the army seems like a massive undertaking, and with turkey's involvement, i'm not sure even sharaa can navigate that minefield without some major setbacks . it's all about balance, you know? good intentions vs actual results - let's see how it all plays out...

I gotta say, this Syrian guy Ahmed al-Sharaa is a total dark horse, you know? One day he's just some diplomat, next thing you know he's on a global tour and everyone's eating out of the palm of his hand . But for real though, it's cool to see all these countries coming together at the UN General Assembly and stuff. It shows that even with all the drama in Syria, people still want to work towards peace and unity.

But let's not get too caught up in the hype just yet. I mean, Sharaa's got some major hurdles to overcome, like dealing with Islamist groups and Turkey trying to stir up trouble. And what about those extremist past concerns? Can he really turn over a new leaf and make Syria a better place for everyone?

I'm not gonna lie, it's all pretty interesting to watch from the sidelines. One thing's for sure, Sharaa needs to prove that his newfound goodwill doesn't just benefit him personally, but also the Syrian people who are still struggling to rebuild their lives . Wish him luck!

I'm kinda thinking sharaa's got a tough road ahead of him . on one hand, it's awesome to see all those countries coming together to support syria, but at the same time, i'm worried about the politics getting in the way. like, we need to remember that sharaa's past is still gonna be a thing, and it'll take some serious work for him to prove he's not as extreme as people think . and let's not forget about israel - that's like, two major issues right there . i guess what i'm saying is, sharaa needs to keep his priorities straight and make sure those reforms are real, you know?

idk how long it'll take for sharaa to actually deliver on all the promises he's making . it sounds like a lot of goodwill has been generated just by being "new" and having a cool new face in charge . don't get me wrong, it's good that syria is getting some much-needed investment and international backing... but what about the people on the ground? they're still dealing with all sorts of problems like poverty, displacement, and lack of access to basic services . i'm guessing sharaa's got some tough decisions ahead of him and it'll be interesting to see how he navigates all the competing interests and pressures

I'm not sure I agree that Sharaa's diplomatic skills are the main reason for all this global attention ... I mean, isn't it also because Syria's been through some pretty rough stuff and people just wanna see things get better for everyone involved? On the other hand, maybe he is making a big deal out of everything? Like, does he really need to visit 13 countries already in just 6 months or so? That just seems like a lot, right? And what's with all these promises from other countries that are gonna help Syria's economy... it's always something, never actually comes through.

I'm kinda hyped about Syria's progress under al-Sharaa , but at the same time, I've got some concerns . The fact that all UN Security Council members showed up in Damascus was a big deal , and it'll be interesting to see how long that unity lasts. Sharaa's done a great job of attracting Gulf investment, which is crucial for Syria's economy . But, his extremist past is still a huge issue , and I'm not sure if he can really shift that narrative.

The Israel situation is super complicated , and I think it'll take some serious diplomatic work to smooth things out. And then there's the Kurdish thing... Turkey's got a lot of power in Northern Syria, so Sharaa needs to tread carefully there . Overall, I'm rooting for him, but he's gotta deliver on his promises . Can't just rely on goodwill; gotta make real changes that benefit the Syrian people

He's gotta navigate all these complex issues and find a balance between pleasing the international community and his own country's needs

I mean, it's not just about throwing money at the economy (although $6 billion is no joke ) - it's about building trust with the people and addressing the real problems that have plagued Syria for years. And let's be real, his extremist past is definitely a concern

And can we talk about the geopolitics of Israel for a sec? It feels like every move he makes is being watched and criticized by someone else. Turkey, US, Israel - it's like a never-ending game of international politics chessboard

But hey, at the end of the day, Sharaa's gotta prove himself as a leader who can deliver for his people. And if he can pull that off, Syria might just have a shot at becoming a stable and prosperous country again

I gotta say, Ahmed al-Sharaa's global tour has got everyone hyped . The fact that all 15 UN Security Council members showed up in Damascus was a major win, and it's awesome to see some unity for once . But let's not get ahead of ourselves, Sharaa's gotta deliver on the promises he's making. It's one thing to have the world cheering you on, but another to actually make progress on reforming Syria's economy and government .

And, tbh, I'm a bit skeptical about the Gulf investment - it feels like a Band-Aid solution to some of Syria's deeper issues. And what's up with Sharaa's extremist past? It's a major concern that he'll keep his word on internal reconciliation .

The Israel situation is also super complicated . I'm not sure how much more diplomatic wrangling we're gonna see before something gives . And the Kurdish fighters - Turkey's got some heavy hands in the region, and it's hard to see how Sharaa can navigate that without alienating either side .

At the end of the day, Sharaa needs to prove he can translate goodwill into actual results if he wants to truly succeed as Syria's leader. Wish him luck, I guess?

You know how back in 2003 Saddam Hussein was trying to rejoin the world and everyone thought it'd be a great idea? Remember how that didn't quite work out ? I feel like we're seeing some of those same vibes with Sharaa now, all this international attention and investment coming in but what's going to happen when the cameras stop rolling and the money stops flowing? He needs to prove he can deliver on his promises without getting caught up in all these external pressures. And what about the Israeli situation? It feels like we're back to the 90s again, all this tension and unpredictability. Can't we just fast forward to a point where Syria's stable and secure for once?

The way sharaa is handling this global tour is kinda sus ... on one hand, its awesome to see him gettin all the recognition and attention, but at the same time i'm worried about how much of it is just a PR stunt ... like, what's really driving his decisions and not just what's best for his country? also gotta say, its weird how all these countries are so quick to jump on board and provide aid without makin any real demands or expectations ... is it just a case of "let's help syria get back on its feet" or is there somethin more to it?

Sharaa's charm tour has been a welcome change from the usual diplomatic posturing, but don't get too caught up in the fairy tale just yet... What really matters is how he addresses the structural issues plaguing the economy and not just relies on foreign aid . Those $6 billion from Saudi and Qatar better be invested in meaningful reforms rather than lining his own pockets

man this sharaa dude is def on a roll but like let's not get too hyped just yet i mean sure he's got the diplomatic skills and all that but what about the ppl on the ground? how's he gonna make sure they're not just getting richer while others struggle? also whats up with the israel situation, it feels like theres still so much tension there...i feel like sharaa needs to be careful not to get caught in the middle of all these big power struggles and meanwhile what about those Kurdish fighters, are they really gonna be integrated into the army or is turkey just trying to screw them over? we need to see some real progress on the ground before we start giving sharaa a standing ovation