Syria's Top Diplomat Seeks Stronger Partnership with the United States

Syria's new government is making a clear pitch to the international community: it wants balanced relationships with everyone, including the United States. Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani told the Manama Dialogue forum in Bahrain that Damascus doesn't want to become a center of regional polarization and is seeking strong partnerships across the board.

Speaking at the security conference on Sunday, al-Shaibani said Syria wants to maintain equal distance from all countries and build relationships based on cooperation and openness. The country is extending its hand to allies and friends in the region for mutual benefit, he explained.

This diplomatic outreach comes as Syria's new leadership tries to establish credibility after decades of international isolation. The Assad regime's fall opened a window for Syria to rebuild its relationships with Western nations and regional powers who had cut ties during the civil war.

But Israel's actions are complicating these efforts. Al-Shaibani said Israeli behavior is undermining Syria's "unique new experience" and that Damascus is trying to handle Israeli provocations through diplomatic channels. Since the government change, Israel has conducted hundreds of airstrikes on Syrian military sites and expanded its presence in border areas.

For regional stability, Syria's diplomatic reset matters. The country sits at the crossroads of multiple conflicts and has been a proxy battleground for years. If the new government can actually deliver on balanced foreign policy, it could reduce tensions that have drawn in Iran, Russia, Turkey, and the US.

The big test will be whether Syria can maintain this neutrality while dealing with practical challenges. Israeli strikes continue, Iranian influence remains embedded in parts of the country, and various armed groups still control territory. Balancing these competing pressures while rebuilding state institutions won't be easy.