President Ahmed al-Sharaa stated on Wednesday that his visit to the United States, including meetings with President Donald Trump and members of Congress, aims to build a strong partnership between Damascus and Washington. He noted that discussions focused on lifting sanctions on Syria and have yielded positive results.
In an interview with The Washington Post, President al-Sharaa emphasized that Israel’s attacks on Syria stem not from security concerns, but from expansionist ambitions. He stressed that the south is Syrian territory and that a security agreement with Israel cannot be reached before it withdraws from territories it occupied on December 8.
“The most important goal of this visit is to begin rebuilding the relationship between Syria and the United States, which wasn’t a very good relationship,” President al-Sharaa said. “We sought common interests and found many shared priorities to build upon, including security and economic interests.”
He added, “Syria’s stability will impact the entire region. Stability is closely tied to the economy and development” that is why lifting sanctions is so important. “These discussions have been ongoing for months, and I believe that we reached good results. But we are still waiting for the final decision.”
Austin Tice and Coordination with the United States
When asked about American journalist Austin Tice, who disappeared in Syria in August 2012, President al-Sharaa said that during the war waged by the former regime, approximately 250,000 Syrians went missing. “This number also includes individuals from other nationalities, including Austin Tice,” he noted.
He continued, “Upon our arrival in Damascus, we were able to release an American citizen from prison and immediately handed him over to U.S. authorities. We also established a committee for the missing, focusing on Americans who disappeared in Syria, and we coordinate closely with U.S. authorities.”
President al-Sharaa recalled meeting families of the missing, including Tice’s mother. “She is a remarkable woman. She also met my mother, who had a similar experience. I disappeared for seven years, and everyone thought I was dead except my mother. She had unwavering confidence that I would return one day.”
Transitional Phase and State Reconstruction
Regarding Syria’s current situation, President al-Sharaa explained that the country has just emerged from a brutal war and had previously lived under a harsh dictatorship that ruled for 60 years. He described Syria as undergoing a transitional phase, with conditions, laws, and circumstances differing from those of stable countries.
He said, “For example, after the U.S. Civil War, did things settle within a year? No—it took many years to rebuild. We are now in the process of reconstructing the state, restoring law and order, and rebuilding governance. That does not mean there are no challenges, but it is a necessary phase.”
President al-Sharaa also noted that some groups pursue their own interests and seek autonomy, sometimes using sect or creed as justification. “They talk about an existential threat for their denomination or faith” he said, but “In Syria, we have been living in coexistence with different groups, different religious groups, for 1,400 years. We’re still existing, and we still have that diversity.”
War Against ISIS
On fight against ISIS, President al-Sharaa said, “We fought ISIS for ten years without coordination with any western power or other countries. Today, Syria is capable of taking full responsibility for its security.” He warned that dividing Syria or allowing military forces outside government control would create an environment in which ISIS could thrive.
Agreement with the SDF
Regarding the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), President al-Sharaa suggested that the optimal solution is for U.S. forces in Syria to supervise the integration of SDF personnel into the central government’s security forces. “Protecting Syrian territory should remain the responsibility of the state,” he said.
Israeli Attacks and Negotiations
On the ongoing Israeli attacks and violations of Syrian territory, President al-Sharaa said, “Syria went to war with Israel 50 years ago. In 1974, a disengagement agreement was signed. Since the fall of the Assad regime, Israel has violated this agreement, expelled the UN peacekeeping mission, occupied new territories, and carried out more than 1,000 airstrikes since December 8, targeting the Presidential Palace and the Ministry of Defense. We have not responded to these attacks because our priority is rebuilding Syria.”
He emphasized, “Israel’s actions are driven by expansionist ambitions, not security concerns. Israel claims it fears threats from Iranian militias and Hezbollah, but it was Syria that expelled those forces.”
President al-Sharaa also stated that Syria is engaged in negotiations with Israel and has made significant progress toward a security agreement. “However, for a final agreement, Israel must withdraw from the territories it occupied on December 8,” he said.
“The United States supports us in these negotiations, and many international parties back our position. President Trump also supports our view and is pushing for a swift resolution,” he added.
The South is Syrian Territory
When asked whether Syria would agree to “demilitarize the area south of Damascus,” President al-Sharaa responded, “This is Syrian land, and Syria must have the freedom to manage its territories. Israel occupied the Syrian Golan under the pretext of self-protection and now imposes conditions in southern Syria to protect the Golan. In a few years, it may seek to control central Syria to protect the south, potentially expanding its influence as far as Munich.”
Relations with Russia
On Syria’s relationship with Russia, President al-Sharaa said, “We fought against Russia for ten years, and it was a tough conflict—they claimed to have attempted to assassinate me several times. We need Russia as a permanent member of the UN Security Council, both for its vote on certain matters and for strategic reasons. We do not want to push Russia toward alternative approaches regarding Syria.”
He added that the issue of Bashar al-Assad remains sensitive for Russia and the relationship with Moscow is still in its early stages. “Syria will preserve its right to demand Assad’s trial,” he emphasized.
