Despite reports by Western media suggesting that Syria will turn back on Iran and make alliance with the Arab fold, facts on the ground prove otherwise.
Recent reports by Western media suggest that the growing tensions between Israel and Iran have put Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in an awkward position. They assert that Israel’s attack on the Iranian consulate in Damascus on April 1, Iran’s retaliatory attack on Israel 12 days later, and Israel’s airstrikes on Iranian soil – which were unprecedented events in relations between Tel Aviv and Tehran – could lead Syria’s foreign policy strategy to undergo great transformation and make Assad to turn back on Iran.
But how close is this scenario to reality?
In exchange for close relations with Syria, the Arab countries have asked Bashar Assad to commit to three goals in Syria:
1- Appealing to a political solution to facilitate the return of Syrian refugees to the country
2- Suppression of drug trafficking from Syria
3- And reducing Iran’s influence in this Arab country
After the devastating earthquake in February last year in Syria, Arab countries found an opportunity to deepen their engagement with the Assad regime. For example, along with increasing diplomatic contacts with Damascus, they made promises to finance the reconstruction of Syria. In this regard, the UAE sent its ambassador to Damascus in January 2024 after more than a decade of zero relations.
Likewise, Saudi Arabia followed suit by appointing a chargé d’affaires in Syria to resume consular activities with this country. Assad’s attendance at the Arab League (AL) meeting in May 2023 also ended the twelve-year suspension of Syria’s membership in the League.
Syria in the Arab fold, more like a dream than reality!
Despite all the positive signs about the reunion of Syria with Arab states in the Persian Gulf, it is more of a dream than reality to believe that Assad will turn his back on Iran to make alliance with Arab countries.
The Syrian President has just recently blamed Arab countries and asserted that they have not been successful in “providing practical solutions” for constructive and effective interaction with Syria. Syrian Foreign Minister Faisal al-Maqdad has also criticized the Arab League for not making serious efforts to rebuild Syria.
In addition, Assad has not done anything to make Arab states think that he will choose alliance with them than staying with Iran. Since his attendance at the Arab League summit in May last year, Assad has not made any serious efforts to meet the AL’s demands, and several states have pushed back against this intransigence.
The Kingdom of Jordan, for example, has gradually expanded its military incursions inside southern Syria allegedly to campaign against drug smuggling in Syria. Saudi Arabia has also reportedly repudiated Assad for failing to accommodate Arab demands that were listed above.
Last but not least, it was at the Jeddah summit in May 2023 that the Syrian President clearly stated “changing one’s embrace does not change affiliation,” referring to his firm stance of keeping alliance with Iran.
