2025 Concordia Annual Summit

A Conversation with H.E. Ahmed al-Sharaa, President of the Syrian Arab Republic

  • Democracy, Security, & Geopolitical Risk
H.E. Ahmed al-Sharaa, Gen. David. H. Petraeus, U.S. Army (Ret.)

Session Summary

Important
Quotations

"I take my power from God the greatest, and also from the team that backs me up, that helps me with this effort. And I also take into account the resilience of the nation and their desire to move forward."
H.E. Ahmed al-Sharaa
"This conversation has truly filled me with enormous hope. Your vision is powerful and clear and we wish you strength and wisdom in the difficult work ahead."
Gen. David. H. Petraeus, U.S. Army (Ret.)

Key
Takeaways

  • Leadership and Reconciliation: President al-Sharaa stressed evaluating past actions within their historical context, emphasizing unity and mercy during the 11-day liberation campaign. The current government is inclusive, representing diverse groups such as Kurds, Alawites, and Christians to ensure all societal factions are included.

 

  • Transition Timeline and Process: Syria anticipates a four- to five-year transitional period to achieve stability, moving faster than historical precedents like Iraq or Germany. Complex challenges will be addressed gradually, recognizing that not all problems can be solved at once.

 

  • International Relations Strategy: Syria aims to focus on shared interests with the West and the United States, adopting a strategic rather than reactive approach to international engagement, while maintaining calm relationships regionally and globally.

 

  • Economic and Reconstruction Focus: Ministerial appointments will prioritize competence, selecting leaders with expertise in economic development. The country emphasizes leveraging its human capital and commercial experience, while advocating for sanctions relief to accelerate reconstruction and growth.

Action
Items

  • Immediate Security and Stability: Syria aims to consolidate weapons under state control, unify the army by integrating various factions, and continue negotiations to incorporate Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic forces into a single national structure.
  • Political and Constitutional Development: The country is preparing inclusive elections, establishing constitutional protections for Kurdish rights, and developing special laws to guide governance during the transitional period.
  • International Engagement: Syria seeks to strengthen US relations based on shared principles, advance negotiations with Israel under UN Resolution 1974, and build regional partnerships aligned with its sovereignty and stability goals.
  • Economic Reconstruction: Efforts focus on restructuring ministries with expert leadership, advocating for sanctions relief to demonstrate economic potential, and systematically rebuilding infrastructure damaged over recent years.
  • Long-term Vision Implementation: Syria emphasizes protection of minority rights alongside majority rule, facilitates refugee return, and aims to reintegrate into the international community as a model of regional stability.

Important Notice Regarding Fraudulent Website

We have identified a website operating under www.theconcordiasummit.org that is impersonating Concordia and copying our brand, language, and images. This site is not affiliated with Concordia. Our only official website is www.concordia.net.

If you have shared personal or payment information with the fraudulent site, please contact us immediately at enquiries@concordia.net. 

We are actively working to have the site removed.