Diplomatic Sources to TML: Al-Sharaa’s US Visa Sets Stage for UN Debut, High-Stakes Diplomacy By Rizik Alabi / The Media Line [Damascus] Senior Syrian diplomatic sources told The Media Line that the US has granted Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa an entry visa to visit the country from September 21 to 25, a notable step reflecting […]
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The Media Line: Diplomatic Sources to TML: Al-Sharaa’s US Visa Sets Stage for UN Debut, High-Stakes Diplomacy
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Diplomatic Sources to TML: Al-Sharaa’s US Visa Sets Stage for UN Debut, High-Stakes Diplomacy
By Rizik Alabi / The Media Line
[Damascus] Senior Syrian diplomatic sources told The Media Line that the US has granted Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa an entry visa to visit the country from September 21 to 25, a notable step reflecting new dynamics in Syria’s regional and international relations.
According to the sources, al-Sharaa will be accompanied on the trip by Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani and Syria’s new envoy to the United Nations, Ibrahim al-Albi.
He is scheduled to deliver an official address to the United Nations General Assembly on September 24 during the 80th session of the organization.
It will be al-Sharaa’s first appearance before the UN since taking office, lending the speech both political and symbolic weight.
Preparations are also underway for a bilateral meeting between al-Sharaa and President Donald Trump on the sidelines of the General Assembly, the sources said—a session drawing close attention for what it may signal about the future of ties between Damascus and Washington.
The Syrian leader is additionally slated to visit New York’s Turkish House—the headquarters of several Turkish diplomatic missions and a center of Turkish cultural activity—together with his Turkish counterpart, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, signaling increased coordination between Damascus and Ankara on regional issues.
Recent Saudi and Turkish diplomatic efforts at the United Nations have aimed to support al-Sharaa’s government, as Riyadh and Ankara have jointly pressed Washington to adopt a firmer stance toward alleged Israeli violations on Syrian territory.
Taken together, these moves are viewed as part of a broader regional attempt to recalibrate international approaches to the Syrian file and give Damascus greater space on the world stage.
While the visit is expected to mark a milestone in Syrian foreign policy, questions remain about whether it will lead to practical understandings that advance Syrian–US relations or remain largely a protocol step conveying symbolic messages.
Analysts argue that the anticipated speech is meant to help Damascus restore its standing even as the country continues to face Western sanctions, stalled reconstruction, and debates over reintegration into the Arab world.
Since the Six-Day War in 1967, Syria’s presence at the United Nations has largely been limited to foreign ministers and permanent representatives—a pattern widely read as a sign of isolation. Al-Sharaa’s decision to attend in person is seen as a deliberate shift.
Al-Sharaa is expected to seek reconstruction aid, the lifting of sanctions, and broader regional cooperation. Western and Arab capitals are likely to scrutinize his remarks for signs of political flexibility in exchange for economic relief.
If he adopts a conciliatory tone, the speech could mark the beginning of Syria’s return to the international stage. If it is defiant, analysts warn that any return will remain mostly symbolic.
Nearly six decades since the last Syrian presidential address at the United Nations, al-Sharaa’s appearance raises a central question: Is Damascus preparing for a genuinely new chapter—or merely a symbolic return?