It’s a second few might have imagined just some years in the past however the Syrian president, Ahmed al Sharaa, has arrived in Washington for a landmark collection of conferences, which can culminate in a face-to-face with Donald Trump on the White Home.
His journey so far is a outstanding story, and it is a story of how one man went from being a jihadist battlefield commander to a statesman on the worldwide stage – now being welcomed by the world’s strongest nation.
Mr Sharaa grew to become chief of Syria after the autumn of the Bashar al Assad regime in December final 12 months.
Earlier than that he glided by the nom de guerre Abu Mohammed al Jolani.
Throughout Syria’s brutal civil conflict, he was the chief of the Nusra Entrance – a chosen terror organisation, the Syrian department of al Qaeda.
Again then, the considered him setting foot on US soil and assembly a US president would have been unthinkable. There was a $10m reward for data resulting in his seize.
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Ahmed al Sharaa assembly Donald Trump in Riyadh in Might. Pic: AP
So what’s going on? Why is diplomacy being turned on its head?
After 14 years of battle which began throughout the so-called Arab Spring, Syria is in a large number.
Mr Sharaa – as the pinnacle of the transitional authorities – is seen by the US as having the best probability of holding the nation collectively and stopping it from falling again into civil conflict and failed state territory.
However to do this, Syria has to emerge from its pariah standing and that is what the US is playing on and why it is inclined to supply its assist and a heat embrace.
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Donald Trump, Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman and Ahmed al Sharaa in Might. Pic: Saudi Press Company
By endorsing Mr Sharaa, it’s hoping he’ll shed his previous and emerge as a pacesetter for everybody and unite the nation.
Holding him shut additionally means it is much less possible that Iran and Russia will once more be capable of acquire a robust strategic foothold within the nation.
So, a person who was as soon as an enemy of the US is now being feted as a possible ally.
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Mr Sharaa assembly Vladimir Putin in Moscow in October. Pic: Reuters
There are huge questions, although. He has rejected his extremist background, saying he did what he did due to the circumstances of the civil conflict.
However since he took energy, there have been sectarian clashes. In July, combating broke out between Druze armed teams and Bedouin tribal fighters in Sweida.
It was an indication of simply how fragile the nation stays and likewise raises considerations about his skill to be a pacesetter for everybody.
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Nonetheless, Mr Sharaa is seen as the most effective probability of stabilising Syria and by extension an necessary a part of the Center East.
Get Syria proper, the logic goes, and the remainder of the jigsaw will probably be simpler to place and maintain collectively.
The go to to Washington is very important and historic. It is the first-ever official go to by a Syrian head of state for the reason that nation’s independence in 1946.
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The assembly with Donald Trump is, although, the actually huge deal. The 2 males met in Riyadh in Might however within the assembly later right this moment they are going to focus on lifting sanctions – essential to Syria’s post-war reconstruction – how Syria may also help within the struggle in opposition to Islamic State, and a attainable pathway to normalisation of relations with Israel.
The optics will probably be fascinating because the US continues to have interaction with a former militant with jihadi hyperlinks.
It is a threat, but when profitable, it might reshape Syria’s function within the area from US enemy to sturdy regional ally.
