Defense Priorities Defense Priorities
  • Policy Topics
    • Israel-Iran
    • Ukraine-Russia
    • NATO
    • China
    • Syria
  • Research
    • Briefs
    • Explainers
    • Reports
  • Programs
    • Grand Strategy Program
    • Military Analysis Program
    • Asia Program
    • Middle East Program
  • Experts
  • Events
  • Media
  • About
    • Mission & Vision
    • People
    • Jobs
    • Contact
  • Donate
Select Page
Home / Syria / The U.S. must restrain itself from being too involved in Syria’s redevelopment
Syria, Middle East

June 10, 2025

The U.S. must restrain itself from being too involved in Syria’s redevelopment

By Daniel DePetris

When President Donald Trump met Syria’s new president, Ahmad al-Sharaa, for the first time last month, he came away impressed with the man’s vision, stamina and looks. “Young, attractive guy, tough guy,” Trump told reporters after the session. “Strong past, very strong past. … He’s got a real shot at holding it together.”

Trump followed up the compliments with a policy change that reverberated throughout the Middle East: a suspension of the U.S. sanctions regime on Syria, which the White House argued was a necessary prerequisite to giving the country a chance to turn the page from more than a half-century of Assad family dictatorship.

The United States, however, continues to have certain expectations for the new, evolving Syrian government. Washington’s asks boil down to three items: combating the Islamic State militant group, consolidating its authority to prevent chaos, and respecting the rights of ethnic and sectarian minorities in the country, some of whom, like the Kurds in Eastern Syria, have been long-standing U.S. partners. The Trump administration also expects al-Sharaa to clamp down on Palestinian militant groups that have traditionally used Syrian soil as a base of operations, and Trump eventually wants Damascus to join the Abraham Accords, which would normalize relations between Israel and Syria.

The results thus far have been mixed, depending on the issue. But in the Middle East, a mixed verdict is often the best that one can hope for.

Read at Chicago Tribune

Author

Photo of Daniel DePetris

Daniel
DePetris

Fellow

Defense Priorities

More on Middle East

In the mediaMiddle East, Israel

Has Gaza tested the limits of Donald Trump’s support for Benjamin Netanyahu?

Featuring Jennifer Kavanagh

July 30, 2025

op-edIsrael‑Hamas, Israel, Middle East

What does Trump really want in Gaza?

By Daniel DePetris

July 30, 2025

op-edGrand strategy, Military analysis

America needs to take better care of its military

By Dan Caldwell

July 28, 2025

op-edGrand strategy, Iran, Israel, Middle East

There are no more reasons for U.S. presence in Middle East

By William Walldorf

July 28, 2025

op-edIsrael‑Iran, Iran, Israel, Middle East

Donald Trump and Benjamin Netanyahu don’t have the same goals

By Daniel DePetris

July 22, 2025

op-edIsrael‑Iran, Iran, Israel, Middle East

What comes next in U.S.-Iran talks?

By Alexander Langlois

July 18, 2025

Events on Syria

See All Events
virtualMiddle East, Basing and force posture, Diplomacy, Houthis, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Israel‑Hamas, Military analysis, Syria

Past Virtual Event: Trump in the Middle East: Impacts, implications, and alternatives

May 16, 2025
virtualSyria, Balance of power, Basing and force posture, Counterterrorism, Middle East, Military analysis

Past Virtual Event: Syria after Assad: Prospects for U.S. withdrawal

February 21, 2025
virtualMiddle East, Iran, Israel‑Hamas, Israel‑Iran, Syria, Yemen

Past Virtual Event: Keeping the U.S. out of war in the Middle East

January 16, 2024

Receive expert foreign policy analysis

Join the hub of realism and restraint

Expert updates and analysis to enhance your understanding of vital U.S. national security issues

Defense Priority Mono Logo

Our mission is to inform citizens, thought leaders, and policymakers of the importance of a strong, dynamic military—used more judiciously to protect America’s narrowly defined national interests—and promote a realistic grand strategy prioritizing restraint, diplomacy, and free trade to ensure U.S. security.

  • About
  • For Media
  • Jobs
  • Donate
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Contact
© 2025 Defense Priorities All Right Reserved