US’s “Fresh” start with Syria?

Context

For the first time in 25 years, a sitting US President (Donald Trump) has met a Syrian leader — Ahmed al-Sharaa, who has taken power after the fall of Bashar al-Assad. This meeting marks a major shift in US-Syria relations, with Trump announcing a full lifting of US sanctions on Syria and exploring the normalisation of diplomatic ties. It is significant not just for US foreign policy but also for the strategic dynamics of West Asia, especially in relation to Israel, Iran, the Abraham Accords, and Gulf investments.

What is the US Trying to Achieve?

The US is trying to reintegrate Syria into the regional and global order through:
- Lifting sanctions.
- Encouraging economic reconstruction.
- Asking Syria to normalise relations with Israel via the Abraham Accords.
It wants to strengthen US influence in the region:
- Diminish Iran’s hold in Syria by involving new leadership.
- Reduce the space for Russian and Iranian influence in the Levant.
- Encourage Syria to deport Palestinian factions labelled as terrorists by the US and take control of ISIS detention centres in Northeast Syria.
Deal-Making Diplomacy: Trump links diplomacy with business deals and investments, visible in his engagements with Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and UAE, who pledged hundreds of billions in US investments and arms purchases.

Significant of the move

Normalisation with Syria: Lifting sanctions paves the way for:
- Gulf countries to re-engage with Syria financially and diplomatically.
- Syrian reconstruction efforts which were previously stalled due to US sanctions.
However, Israel-Syria normalisation remains uncertain and controversial, especially among sections of the Syrian population.
Impact on the Abraham Accords: Trump is attempting to expand the Abraham Accords, which already include UAE, Bahrain, Morocco, and Sudan, to include Syria. But given Syria’s past stance and domestic political complexity, this move may face resistance.
Iran and the Geopolitical Chessboard: Trump also mentioned his desire to strike a new nuclear deal with Iran, but tied it to Iran halting its:
- Proxy wars.
- Arms support to groups like Hezbollah, Houthis, and Hamas.
- Alleged nuclear ambitions.
If the US under Trump normalizes ties with Syria (as per your article), this may open the door for India to increase official economic and strategic engagement without fear of secondary US sanctions.

India-Syria Relations:

India and Syria have had contacts dating back to ancient times, primarily through Silk Road trade and cultural exchanges.
Post-Independence Ties:
- India recognized Syria soon after its independence from France in 1946.
- Diplomatic relations were established in 1947, making India among the first non-Arab countries to establish ties with Syria.
India has consistently called for a peaceful, Syrian-led political solution under UN Resolution 2254.
India has not closed its embassy in Damascus, unlike many Western nations during the civil war—signaling continued diplomatic presence.
India has extended Lines of Credit and offered capacity-building assistance:
- ITEC (Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation) scholarships.
- Training Syrian diplomats and professionals.
India also offered humanitarian aid during the conflict:
Syria is a key part of India’s extended neighbourhood policy in West Asia. Its location near the Eastern Mediterranean and in proximity to Israel, Iran, and Turkey makes it geopolitically significant.
Maintaining relations with Syria gives India diplomatic leverage in West Asian multilateral platforms like:
- India-Arab League Dialogue
- India-West Asia Quad (India-Israel-UAE-USA)
- BRICS+ engagements (as Syria may express interest post-conflict)
India's Balancing Act: India balances multiple actors in the region:
- Israel (strategic defence partner)
- Iran (energy & Chabahar port)
- Gulf States (labour, energy, investments)
- And Russia, which has major military presence in Syria.
India’s neutral but principled approach helps it engage all actors in the region without alienating any bloc.