After about six decades, the presence of a Syrian President in the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) is going to give a new direction to international politics. Let us tell you that the newly elected President of Syrian Ahmed Hussain al-Shara, who is also known as his former name Abu Mohammad Al-Julani, has reached New York. If seen, this journey is not only a diplomatic formality, but is also a complex political sign of Syria’s past, present and future. Born in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia in 1982 and raised in Damascus, Ahmed Al-Shrara’s life is nothing short of a political novel. The person who once fought as an al-Qaeda fighter in Iraq, then in American custody for five years, and then to become the President of Syria, who led a person who led organizations such as Al-Nusra Front and Hayat Tahrir al-Sham is unpredictable in itself. By the way, it is also ironic that the person who has ever spent years in the US jail, is now going to address the whole world from the US land on the stage of the United Nations General Assembly. This scene holds intensive symbolic significance not only for Syria, but also for international politics – where the lines of the enemy and the collaborate are blurred over time.
Let us remind you that Ahmed al-Sharra was the top leader of militant organization like Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), which was called a terrorist organization by Western countries. American arrests, al-Qaeda association with al-Qaeda and then the fight against the Assad rule in Syria, all of which gave his life a controversial but decisive dimension. After the fall of Assad rule in December 2024, he took power and started presenting himself as a reformist leader.
Let us tell you that western countries, especially America and France, have started talking with Al-Shrara. His meeting with US President Donald Trump in May 2025 and then relaxation of restrictions indicates this change. However, critics say that the US and its allies have preferred strategic interests by compromising the principles of anti -terrorism policies. It has also deepened that if a former militant gets international validity, it can also give wrong message to other radical organizations.
Let us tell you that the main point of Al-Sharra’s agenda is the reconstruction of Syria and relief from restrictions. He is constantly arguing that long -lasting restrictions have been punishing the common Syrian public. He has described the partial exemption by Trump as a “historic step”, but stringent provisions like the Caesar Act still remain.
Along with this, potential talks with Israel are also the center of international interest. Israeli occupation and frequent air strikes on South Syria have been a major challenge. Al-Sharra has indicated that there is a possibility of an agreement on the security system, while Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu still considers it a “possibility of future”.
Let us also tell you that Al-Sharra’s most difficult exam is at the domestic level. Allegations of violence against minorities such as Drews and Alvi are weakening their image. The Kurdish force in the north-east and the Drews community in the south are still demanding autonomy. But Al-Shara, opposing the federal system, talks about “integrated Syria”, but the ground reality says something else. If these dissatisfaction is not removed, the ghosts of the civil war may once again surround Syria.
If seen, Al-Shrara’s international recognition is not only due to their reformist claims, but it is also part of the US-Russia rivalry. Russia has been a major ally of Assad regime for a long time and its military presence in Syria has been challenging the West. In such a situation, there is also a strategy for Washington to communicate and cooperate with Al-Shrara, regional power balance.
Let us tell you that parliamentary elections are going to be held in Syria on 5 October. This is the first election after the collapse of Assad regime, but most of the seats are provided through electoral college. Due to crores of displaced citizens, direct voting is not possible. The question is whether this process will plant the bezar of real democracy, or it will only become a medium for gaining validity of power.
If seen, Ahmed Al-Shrara’s speech at the United Nations General Assembly and his presence on the international stage is a historic turn for Syria. But it is clear that their past cannot completely cover the present. Whether or not this leader, who was associated with al-Qaeda at a time, will now be seen as a nation builder or not, it will be proved in the coming years. The question here is whether Syria will really be able to become a safe, stable and integrated country, or will the change of power only prove to be facial change? The eyes of the world are still on Syria – where every step will create history or repeat the mistakes of history.