{"id":40082,"date":"2025-10-23T12:32:40","date_gmt":"2025-10-23T12:32:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/963media.com\/en\/?p=40082"},"modified":"2025-10-23T12:32:40","modified_gmt":"2025-10-23T12:32:40","slug":"inside-damascuss-diplomatic-dilemma-russia-sanctions-and-sovereignty","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/963media.com\/en\/23\/10\/2025\/inside-damascuss-diplomatic-dilemma-russia-sanctions-and-sovereignty\/","title":{"rendered":"Inside Damascus\u2019s Diplomatic Dilemma: Russia, Sanctions, and Sovereignty"},"content":{"rendered":"

Days after Syrian interim president Ahmad al-Sharaa\u2019s visit to Moscow in mid-October 2025 \u2013 described as a \u201cturning point\u201d in Syrian-Russian relations \u2013 the diplomatic scene in Damascus entered a period of confusion and inconsistency. What began as a strategic move to reset ties with Moscow soon turned into a series of contradictory public statements between the president and his foreign minister, revealing multiple centres of decision-making inside Syria\u2019s new administration.<\/span><\/p>\n

Economic Sovereignty, Not Aid<\/b><\/h2>\n

The first signs of this divide appeared when Syria\u2019s interim foreign minister, Asaad al-Shaibani, made notable comments just days after al-Sharaa returned from Moscow.<\/span>
\n<\/span>Al-Shaibani stressed that lifting US and European sanctions on Syria was a \u201chumanitarian and economic necessity,\u201d insisting that the country \u201cseeks economic sovereignty based on partnership, not aid.\u201d He also said that Damascus was committed to international agreements and to the 1974 Disengagement Accord \u2013 a message seemingly aimed at the West and Israel more than at Moscow.<\/span><\/p>\n

Although his statements did not directly contradict the president, their tone differed. While Al-Sharaa spoke of a \u201cbalanced strategic partnership\u201d with Russia, al-Shaibani\u2019s message focused on sovereignty, sanctions, and cautious openness to the West, giving the impression of two separate policy directions.<\/span><\/p>\n

According to Dr Mustafa Khaled al-Mohammad, a political adviser close to the Kremlin, Al-Sharaa\u2019s visit \u201cwas not purely a Syrian affair but had clear Turkish dimensions.\u201d<\/span>
\n<\/span>He told <\/span>+963<\/b>: \u201cTurkey is trying to acquire a defence system for Syrian territory because Israel would not dare strike such systems if Turkey deployed them. So Ankara turned to Russian systems that could be placed across Syria\u2019s territory.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Al-Mohammad added that the main purpose of the visit was \u201cto agree on defence systems and weapons, treating Damascus as a partner in the purchase,\u201d and confirmed that both Syrian defence and foreign ministers were involved. \u201cAn agreement was signed,\u201d he said, \u201cbut many technical details remain unresolved.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

He noted that the visit also carried a message to Washington: \u201cAny rift between Washington and Damascus will push Syria further towards the eastern camp; Moscow and Beijing.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Negotiation, Not Disagreement<\/b><\/h2>\n

Al-Mohammad explained that differences between Moscow and Damascus were not deep disputes but \u201cnegotiations over influence and interests.\u201d<\/span>
\n<\/span>He said: \u201cThe Russian bases in Syria are essential for Moscow, and it insists on keeping them. Damascus, in turn, wants to use these bases as leverage in talks on economic and political support.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

He added that the conflicting statements showed \u201cgenuine confusion,\u201d noting that \u201cal-Sharaa said the agreements would remain and be gradually amended, while al-Shaibani said no understandings had yet been reached \u2013 a clear contradiction.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Al-Mohammad also mentioned that Moscow\u2019s recent move to suspend scholarships for Syrian students was \u201can unfriendly signal,\u201d despite Russia\u2019s official support for Damascus.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The Ambassador Issue and Unspoken Details<\/b><\/h2>\n

One of the most striking issues raised by al-Mohammad was the status of Syria\u2019s ambassador to Moscow, Bashar al-Jaafari.<\/span>
\n<\/span>\u201cMoscow refuses to replace al-Jaafari even though he recently obtained political asylum status,\u201d he said. \u201cThis removes his diplomatic immunity, as he is now considered persecuted by the current authorities. So technically, Syria has no official ambassador in Moscow.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

He added that the first topic discussed between Al-Sharaa and Putin was the ambassador\u2019s position, and that proposals were made to open a new consulate in Krasnodar or Nalchik to serve Syrians there. He also confirmed that both sides agreed to keep military agreements confidential \u201cfor the security and interests of both parties.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

In a more sensitive comment, al-Mohammad spoke of \u201cIranian influence within Damascus and the Foreign Ministry,\u201d saying: \u201cI tried to establish independent channels with Russia, but found no cooperation, perhaps due to fear or marginalisation. There is hesitation and fear of direct contact with Moscow.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

He added that Russia rejects any mediation through Turkey: \u201cMoscow does not want its ties with Damascus to pass through Ankara or any secondary channel.\u201d These statements revealed genuine coordination problems between Syria and Russia and showed how Damascus\u2019s links with Tehran and Ankara have complicated its diplomacy abroad.<\/span><\/p>\n

Relations Under Test<\/b><\/h2>\n

Political researcher Bassam al-Sulayman, based in Damascus, offered a different view.<\/span>
\n<\/span>He told <\/span>+963<\/b>: \u201cPolitics between nations is based on interests, avoiding harm and gaining benefits. Russia plays a key role in trying to limit chaos.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

He noted that \u201cstrategic communication between Syria and Israel continues,\u201d and that \u201cRussia can play a positive role through food, wheat, infrastructure and military cooperation.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

According to al-Sulayman, \u201cthe visit was part of Syria\u2019s new balanced diplomacy. The two presidents met for a long session and clearly reached some understandings, though no one knows exactly what they were,\u201d adding that \u201cthese may concern military matters or food security, since our wheat comes from Russia. Economically, there are infrastructure projects with Russian funding. The meeting shows that Putin wants Russia to have a role in post-war Syria.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Read also: End of UN Resolution 2231 Triggers a New Standoff Between Iran and the West<\/a>
\n<\/strong><\/p>\n

A Divided Voice<\/b><\/h2>\n

After the Moscow visit, Syria\u2019s official rhetoric became fragmented. President Al-Sharaa speaks of balanced partnership; Foreign Minister al-Shaibani highlights sovereignty and lifting sanctions; Moscow-aligned advisers talk of negotiations over bases and influence; while researchers in Damascus admit that no one really knows what was agreed.<\/span><\/p>\n

Analysts see this as a sign of a deeper issue: the lack of a unified diplomatic vision within Syria\u2019s transitional administration. The country, still trying to reposition itself after years of war, now faces a double challenge \u2013 how to preserve its alliance with Moscow without losing sovereignty, and how to reopen to the West without angering its allies in the East.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Between Al-Sharaa\u2019s visit to Moscow and al-Shaibani\u2019s statements in Damascus, Syria\u2019s diplomacy appears trapped in a moment of real confusion.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Days after Syrian interim president Ahmad al-Sharaa\u2019s visit to Moscow in mid-October 2025 \u2013 described as a \u201cturning point\u201d in Syrian-Russian relations \u2013 the diplomatic scene in Damascus entered a period of confusion and inconsistency. What began as a strategic move to reset ties with Moscow soon turned into a series of contradictory public statements […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":107,"featured_media":40083,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jnews-multi-image_gallery":[],"jnews_single_post":{"format":"standard","override":[{"template":"1","single_blog_custom":"0","parallax":"1","fullscreen":"1","layout":"left-sidebar","sidebar":"default-sidebar","second_sidebar":"default-sidebar","sticky_sidebar":"1","share_position":"float","share_float_style":"share-normal","show_share_counter":"1","show_view_counter":"1","show_featured":"1","show_post_meta":"1","show_post_author":"1","show_post_author_image":"1","show_post_date":"1","post_date_format":"default","post_date_format_custom":"g:i a d\/m\/Y","post_reading_time_wpm":"300","post_calculate_word_method":"str_word_count","show_zoom_button":"1","zoom_button_out_step":"5","zoom_button_in_step":"4","show_post_tag":"1","number_popup_post":"1","show_post_related":"1"}],"image_override":[{"single_post_thumbnail_size":"crop-500","single_post_gallery_size":"crop-500"}],"trending_post_position":"meta","trending_post_label":"Trending","sponsored_post_label":"Sponsored by","disable_ad":"0","subtitle":"Confusion grows in Damascus after President Al-Sharaa\u2019s visit to Moscow and the Foreign Minister\u2019s contrasting statements."},"jnews_primary_category":[],"jnews_override_counter":{"view_counter_number":"0","share_counter_number":"0","like_counter_number":"0","dislike_counter_number":"0"},"jnews_post_split":{"post_split":[{"template":"1","tag":"h2","numbering":"asc","mode":"normal","first":"0","enable_toc":"0","toc_type":"normal"}]},"footnotes":""},"categories":[430,19],"tags":[],"ppma_author":[390],"class_list":["post-40082","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-insights","category-slider"],"yoast_head":"\nInside Damascus\u2019s Diplomatic Dilemma: Russia, Sanctions, and Sovereignty - 963+<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"\u00a0 After Al-Sharaa\u2019s Moscow visit, Syria\u2019s diplomacy wavers between Russia and the West, revealing internal divisions and uncertainty in Damascus.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" 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