Fadıl Hancı

Approximately one year after the fall of the Assad regime, Syria has made concrete progress in securing international recognition and stabilizing the country. This commentary examines the two key dynamics shaping Syria’s transition: diplomatic recognition and territorial unification. It concludes that the main domestic and foreign policy challenges facing the country in the next phase are as follows. First, it analyzes Syria’s prioritization of regional relations, how regional alignment created momentum for broader international engagement, and why foreign relations were key to addressing domestic security challenges. Second, it explores Syria’s pathway toward territorial unification, including major setbacks in the coastal areas and in Sweida, as well as the collapse of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), which marked a strategic turning point in the transition and potentially enabled Damascus to redirect its national policy priorities. Finally, the article highlights the next domestic and foreign policy challenges facing Syria’s transition, with particular focus on implementing the integration agreement with the SDF/YPG and addressing social expectations regarding key political and economic imperatives.