ALBAWABA - US President Donald Trump caused a stir when he said he was "practically responsible" for the rise of Ahmed al-Sharaa, Syria's transitional president, and praised him for doing a "exceptional job" in office.
Critics of Trump's comments say they show that the U.S. has direct control over Syria's leadership during its unstable transition from Assad. This sparked a lot of debate online and in political circles. Supporters, on the other hand, saw the statement as a sign that Washington was once again getting involved in diplomacy in the area.
After the Assad government fell, Al-Sharaa took over as leader and has been in charge of a transitional period that is meant to bring stability to the country after years of civil war. His presidency was the result of a larger effort in the region and around the world to coordinate the next stage of governance in Damascus.
Hakan Fidan, the Turkish Foreign Minister, said earlier that there were a number of meetings in the region and around the world after Assad left the country. The talks, which are said to have started in Amman, moved to Cairo, and later included representatives from Europe and the US, were mostly about how to shape Syria's transitional roadmap. Fidan says that the countries that took part told al-Sharaa what they wanted, and al-Sharaa said he was willing to work with the priorities of the region.
Fidan also said that regional players, like Turkey, made it clear that they would only continue to support al-Sharaa if he kept his political and security promises.
Trump's comments come at a time when Syria's geopolitical alliances are changing. International powers are still heavily involved in rebuilding, making security arrangements, and restructuring the government. The White House hasn't said anything more about the president's comments, but they have made the U.S.–Syria relationship even more sensitive.
The debate over external influence and sovereignty is still very important in both domestic and international discussions as Syria goes through a difficult transition.
