From Pariah to Partner: Why Al-Jolani’s Former Enemies Are Now Embracing Him
Ahmad al-Sharaa, once branded a terrorist by the U.S. and Saudi Arabia, is now being welcomed in Riyadh and Ankara. What does this shift mean for Syria and regional alliances?
Watan-There are no permanent enmities or eternal friendships in politics; rather, it is a game of interests that governs relations between states. Ahmad al-Sharaa, formerly known as “Abu Mohammad al-Jolani,” was once classified as a terrorist by the United States and Saudi Arabia, with Washington placing a hefty bounty on his head.
Yet today, he is being received with grand official ceremonies in Riyadh, followed by Ankara, where he was personally welcomed by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.
This drastic shift raises many questions about the nature of the new alliances forming in the region. Al-Sharaa’s visit to Saudi Arabia, and then to Turkey, suggests that his interim government in Syria is now receiving implicit recognition from yesterday’s adversaries.
On the negotiating table are pressing issues such as the Turkish military bases in Syria, the reconstruction of the country, and the Qatari gas pipeline that Ankara seeks to route through Syrian territory.
Al-Sharaa’s visit to Ankara coincided with Turkey hosting the Egyptian Prime Minister, sparking speculation about a possible undisclosed meeting between al-Shar’a and an Egyptian government representative, amid a growing Turkish-Egyptian rapprochement. Could this mark the beginning of Cairo’s openness toward the new ruling authority in Syria? And will there be a political price for al-Shar’a to pay in exchange for improved relations with Egypt?
The UAE, which had previously supported the Syrian regime, now appears more reserved regarding the interim government, while Qatar remains a key player in this evolving landscape—especially following its Emir’s visit to Damascus, the first in over 13 years.
These rapid shifts raise questions about Syria’s future after the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime and the ability of al-Sharaa’s government to maintain a balance between competing international and regional forces. Can al-Jolani, who has traded his military fatigues for a presidential suit, successfully navigate these political storms, or will he find himself bound by major concessions to his new allies?
