Syria has marked one year since the Victory Conference that followed the Dec. 8, 2024 political change represented by the defeat of the ousted Assad, a milestone officials say ended decades of isolation and set the country on a path of domestic renewal and renewed Arab and international engagement.
Damascus, once diplomatically sidelined, has since become an active hub for visiting Arab and foreign delegations, particularly after the Jan. 29, 2025 conference and the assumption of office by President Ahmad al-Sharaa, moves portrayed as signaling Syria’s gradual return to its traditional regional and international standing.
Political Transition and National Priorities
In his address to the conference, attended by representatives of military operations administrations and revolutionary forces, President al-Sharaa outlined priorities for the next phase: filling the power vacuum, safeguarding civil peace, rebuilding state institutions on modern foundations, developing a growth-oriented economy, and restoring Syria’s regional and international role.
President al-Sharaa stressed that victory carried added responsibility, saying that just as Syrians had resolved to liberate the country, they must now commit to rebuilding and developing it, crediting unified efforts for opening what he described as a new chapter of dignity and freedom.
From transition to development: Syria reviews a year of change and outreach
Damascus Reopens to Regional and International Diplomacy
Foreign and Expatriates Minister Asaad Hassan al-Shaibani said the new Syria would pursue a balanced, multi-dimensional foreign policy aimed at reassuring international partners, expanding cooperation, and prioritizing Arab relations while strengthening ties with neighboring states and forging new partnerships to support recovery and development.
President Sets Course for Reconstruction and Institutional Renewal
Colonel Hassan Abdul Ghani, spokesman for the Military Operations Administration, read the declaration announcing the revolution’s victory, which included designating Dec. 8 as a national day, suspending the 2012 constitution, abolishing exceptional laws, dissolving parliament and affiliated committees, and dismantling the former army, to be rebuilt on professional and national foundations.
The declaration also called for dissolving former security bodies and militias, forming a new national security institution, dissolving the Baath Party and National Progressive Front parties and transferring their assets to the state, integrating revolutionary factions into state institutions, and appointing President al-Sharaa to head the transitional phase with authority to form a temporary legislative council until a permanent constitution takes effect.
Foreign Policy Shift Toward Arab and Global Partnerships
Officials said the president undertook 22 visits to major capitals, beginning with Saudi Arabia and later traveling repeatedly to Turkey and Qatar, as well as Russia, the UAE, Bahrain, Kuwait, Jordan, Egypt, France, Brazil, Azerbaijan and Washington, the first visit by a Syrian president to the U.S. capital since independence in 1946.
His most recent trip was to Moscow, where President Vladimir Putin reaffirmed Russia’s support for Syria’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, including efforts to restore state authority in eastern regions.
International Delegations Signal Reengagement
Alongside the outreach, Damascus has received more than 70 Arab, international and U.N. delegations, reflecting what officials described as political backing for Syria’s new phase and growing interest in reintegrating the country as a partner in regional stability.
Sanctions Lifted, Agreements Signed
Diplomatic efforts have led to the lifting of U.S. and European sanctions, including the Caesar Act, officials said, and to the signing of more than 40 agreements and memoranda with states and international and Arab companies in transport, energy, infrastructure, health, education and agriculture, aimed at boosting reconstruction and investment.
Domestic Reforms and Economic Measures
Internally, President al-Sharaa ratified a temporary constitutional declaration in March, parliamentary elections were held in October, and agreements in March 2025 and January 2026 were signed to integrate civil and military institutions in northeastern Syria into state structures.
President al-Sharaa also issued a decree affirming that Syrian Kurds are an integral part of the national fabric and that their cultural and linguistic identity forms a core component of Syria’s inclusive identity.
New National Bodies Launched for Justice and Reform
National bodies were established, including the Transitional Justice Commission, the National Commission for the Missing, the Higher Committee for Civil Peace, investigative committees into coastal and Sweida events, a sovereign development fund, and a Supreme Education Council to unify curricula.
Officials cited the restoration of vital facilities, the export of the first oil shipment to turn the sector into a revenue source, a 200 percent salary increase, and the launch of a new national currency after removing two zeros to strengthen monetary stability.
Regional Realignment After Political Change
The toppling of Assad regime brought the end of Iranian influence and the departure of affiliated militias, reopening regional ties with Arab states, Turkey and Western countries, and positioning Syria as a confident partner seeking balanced relations that serve its people and promote regional security.
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