Syria's New Government : Can a Former U.S. Wanted Insurgent Rebuild a Nation?

Syria has experienced a shift in power with new actors emerging. The larger shift comes from how global powers view ongoing events in the country.

Ahmed al-Sharaa came to power in Syria as part of a dramatic political transition.  In addition to signalling the end of Syria's previous leadership, his ascent has drawn attention from all over the world due to his remarkable personal development of Ahmed al-Sharaa, from being an al-Qaeda militant commander to a Syrian ‘revolutionary’ leader.

Illustration by The Geostrata

Ahmed al-Sharaa was an extremist radicalised by the Second Intifada, fighting with al-Qaeda in Iraq, before he returned to Syria. Over time, he reinterpreted his political identity and transformed HTS from a movement associated with worldwide jihad to one that presents itself as an actor with a focus on Syria.

In December 2024, a lightning rebel offensive successfully removed long-time Syrian Ruler Bashar al-Assad from power and captured the capital, Damascus. As of January 29, 2025, Ahmed al-Sharaa had emerged as the leader of the revolution; on this date, he was named transitional president at the so-called "Syrian Revolution Victory Conference" organised by the newly formed Syrian General Command.

Following this announcement, the old constitution was suspended, and all of the existing state institutions (including the parliament, security forces, and administrative institutions) were dissolved and reorganised under newly appointed leadership.

WHAT HAS THE GOVERNMENT DONE SO FAR?

The Syrian transitional government, since March 2025, under al-Sharaa's leadership,  has been working to re-establish basic governance and build in the civil war-torn country. In March 2025, al-Sharaa appointed a technocrat cabinet of 23 members; this cabinet included ministers such as the Minister of Sports and Youth, Minister of Culture, Minister of Defence, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates, and Minister of Emergency and Disaster Management, etc.

These appointments represented the movement away from military rule towards reinstating the normal functions of the state. Furthermore, the government has begun reasserting control over its territory by establishing the police and centralising security; the armed forces now consist of an integrated army composed of both state and former rebel fighters. In addition to this, the new constitution is presently being drafted, and national elections will occur to hopefully enable the nation to move towards a more stable and orderly political environment.

SHIFT IN SYRIA'S REGIONAL AND GLOBAL RELATIONS

The fall of the House of Assad has changed how Syria shapes its relations with the rest of the Arab world and global powers. For many years, Syria has worked as a land bridge for Iran and its regional proxies across the Middle East. That link has now been broken, and many of the same countries that supported Assad through that alliance (Gulf monarchies) are willing to hit a reset in diplomatic and economic relations with Syria.

On a global stage, the changing landscape of Syria's relationship with the world is also becoming apparent. On 6 November 2025, the UN Security Council established a new relationship with Syria after lifting its sanctions on both al-Sharaa and his newly appointed Minister of Interior (al-bakri).

This came about as a result of a consensus agreement from 14 of the 15 members of the Security Council, indicating a strong willingness to re-establish diplomatic relationships with Syria. Shortly thereafter, both the US and UK moved to eliminate their sanctions and restore diplomatic relations with Syria.

MIXED RESULTS AND CONTINUING PROBLEMS IN SYRIA

While there is a little bit of hope coming for the people of Syria, it is still complicated and broken. There have been a lot of incidents of sectarian violence lately, with a lot of these being carried out by former rebel groups that are loosely affiliated with the new government. These clashes have left a large number of people dead and created an even greater concern as to whether or not the new government will be able to continue to exercise its power over all of Syria.

The aftermath of war looms large in the minds of people: years spent in civil war, devastation caused by war, mass migration of people away from their homes due to violence and destruction, and large social divisions within the country all contribute to a lengthy timeline for reconstruction.

Many of those who were compelled to flee their homes are now returning, but a sizable portion of the populace still faces extreme financial insecurity. Humanitarian systems remain under tremendous pressure to fulfil the basic needs of civilians in large numbers.

Critics believe that although the transitional government has made many promises of a fresh new beginning, the concentration of power within the presidency and transitional institutions stems the potential for the development of a new authoritarian regime, similar to the one that existed before the war, and likely with many of the same structures of power as before, even though the leadership will have changed. 

WHAT THE FUTURE MAY HOLD?

With Ahmed al-Sharaa's new administration, Syria now has a chance to reconstruct state institutions, reestablish a diplomatic presence overseas, restore vital public services, and establish the framework required for the safe return of displaced Syrians through organised reconciliation processes. Foreign investment, development aid, and international reconstruction partnerships are now far more feasible than they have been in the previous ten years due to the lifting of economic sanctions.

While there is hope for Syria's future, the country's ability to achieve political stability, international reintegration, and reconstruction will depend on the state's ability to govern in a truly inclusive way that respects minority rights, addresses past abuses, and prevents new cycles of conflict. If the state doesn't, there might be a resurgence of sectarian violence and unrest, as well as ongoing division among groups that are fed up with their central government.

In the end, whether the opportunity presented to Syria is an indication of real progress and change (a new beginning) or simply another display of authoritarianism will be determined by the manner in which leadership balances the power to govern, hold leaders accountable, and promote reconciliation. What occurs over the next few months and years will influence not only the future of Syria but also the broader regional environment.

CONCLUSION

Ahmed al-Sharaa's ascent signifies an opportunity for Syria to achieve stability and a possible recurrence of past mistakes. The Syrian people will ultimately decide what this new chapter means for their nation and its relations with its neighbours, even though Western and regional governments may see a stabilised Syrian government as an opportunity to re-engage and secure their own strategic interests.

As such, while the entire globe observes closely, for Syrians, their concerns are not based on geography but on their own personal circumstances; thus, they have heightened concerns about their future and what choices they can make in their lifetimes.

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BY MUSKAN GUPTA

TEAM GEOSTRATA

info@thegeostrata.com