Balance of Power

Syria’s Hard Road Ahead After Trump Embrace of Al-Sharaa

The president must still overcome many challenges in charting a future for the war-ravaged nation.

Ahmed Al-Sharaa, Syria’s president, during the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York, US, on Wednesday, Sept. 24, 2025.Photographer: David Dee Delgado/Bloomberg

Provide news feedback or report an error

Confidential tip?

Send a tip to our reporters

Site feedback:

Take our Survey

By Abeer Abu Omar

November 11, 2025 at 10:59 AM UTC

Welcome to Balance of Power, bringing you the latest in global politics. If you haven’t yet, sign up here .

Syrian President Ahmed Al-Sharaa’s meeting at the White House with Donald Trump was a remarkable turn of events for the former jihadist, who had a $10 million US bounty on his head just a year ago.