The third international meeting on Syria in Paris, hosted by French President Emmanuel Macron, was an attempt to coordinate an international response since the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime. The summit brought together high-level representatives from 20 regional and Western countries, including Saudi Arabia, Türkiye, Egypt, Jordan, Germany and the United Kingdom, as well as representatives of the United Nations.
In the context of tensions in the Middle East, the meeting was meant to coordinate efforts to protect Syria’s sovereignty and security while mobilizing key regional and international actors to provide essential aid and economic support. The meeting concluded with a joint statement that included pledges of support and outlined a vision for building a free, sovereign, stable, and peaceful Syria. However, words alone will not be sufficient; the time for action has come. The situation on the ground is worsening, and if the international community does not turn written commitments into action, the moment will be lost and Syria will slide into instability.
The summit demonstrated the high level of international support for the new Syrian government. However, the absence of US representation was largely noticed. While Secretary of State Marco Rubio has previously voiced support for a comprehensive transition, saying it would help prevent a resurgence of ISIS and other extremist groups, Washington has yet to develop a clear policy on Syria.
Likewise, while the joint statement of the Paris meeting was comprehensive, it provided very few tangible results, and reflected intentions of the international community more than providing solutions to the immediate challenges in Syria, and the main focus was on confronting ISIS.
True, the group’s revival poses a threat to Syria’s transition, with its operations increasing over the past year. But the Damascus government needs help that goes far beyond simply striking at extremists. Primarily, building relations with the new Syrian government on this only issue would be a strategic and tactical mistake. After all, the West’s focus but on counterterrorism in its relations with Iraq, Yemen and Libya was a painful lesson that have presumably been learned.
The French president has called on the Syrian government to fully integrate the US-backed, Kurdish Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) into the transition process. While many Western leaders share this sentiment, the SDF refuses to give up the autonomy won from the Assad regime.
Moreover, internal tensions are hampering cooperation between the SDF and Damascus on other key issues, such as control of ISIS prisons. President Donald Trump’s decision to freeze foreign aid had an immediate impact on the matter. The provision of basic goods and aid distribution services in the al-Hawl and al-Roj prisons, which hold tens of thousands of ISIS suspects, have then been disrupted.
Participating countries also linked work on lifting economic sanctions to progress in the transitional process in Syria and the implementation of effective reforms. Arab countries have repeatedly called on the United States and the European Union to lift or suspend sanctions.
On this subject, the UK has announced that it intends to introduce measures to modify its sanctions regime, including easing restrictions on the energy, transport and finance sectors, as well as facilitating the provision of humanitarian aid. However, there is no guarantee that the sanctions will be lifted any time soon.
The Paris conference showed that Europe is keen to take the lead in supporting Syria, especially as the United States is preoccupied with other issues, including ending the war between Russia and Ukraine, in Gaza, and discussions about imposing tariffs on its partners. While the meeting yielded many promises, unless the wave of goodwill translates into material support, there is a risk that discontent Syrians, creating an opening for extremist groups.
In this context, the next European conference in Brussels is an opportunity to turn words into action. If Europe fails to do so, the risk of instability in Syria will rise.