From his long interview with the New York Times… The Syrian transitional president talks about negotiations to obtain military support from Russia and Türkiye and addresses the problem of foreign fighters

The Syrian transitional President Ahmed al Sharaa revealed in an interview with the New York Times that the Syrian government is negotiating with both Russia and Türkiye to conclude new agreements regarding future military support.

He explained that both countries have a military presence on Syrian territory, but that all previous agreements have been canceled, noting that his country is currently working on preparing new versions of these agreements.

Ahmed al Sharaa added that there is growing interest from regional and European countries in contributing to Syria’s stability in the coming period, after the end of Assad’s rule, stressing that any foreign military presence in Syria must be consistent with Syrian law.

The Syrian transitional President emphasized the need for any foreign presence on Syrian territory not to pose a threat to its neighbors, emphasizing that Syrian sovereignty and the country’s stability must be at the core of any future agreement.

He also emphasized the strength of the relationship with Russia, noting that Damascus is completely dependent on Russian weapons and that cooperation agreements in the food and energy sectors have been ongoing between the two countries for years.

He explained that these interests must be taken into account in the framework of future partnerships.

Regarding the issue of arming the Syrian army, the Syrian president confirmed that his government is open to purchasing additional weapons from Russia and other countries, however, he explained that building an army capable of protecting a country the size of Syria isn’t a task that can be accomplished in a matter of months, but rather a challenge that requires significant time and effort.

Regarding the US sanctions imposed on Damascus, al Sharaa indicated that some of the conditions proposed by Washington need to be reviewed or modified, but he declined to disclose the details of those conditions.

He pointed out that Syria seeks to update its agreements with allied countries to preserve its security independence, noting the great importance of the Russian role, especially in the areas of armament and energy.

Al Sharaa sent a letter to the US administration, demanding the lifting of sanctions imposed on Syria, explaining that the sanctions hinder efforts to rebuild the economy destroyed by the war, and that they were imposed on the former regime, not the current state.

Although he refused to delve into the details of the US demands, he indicated that some of them “need to be reviewed before reaching potential understandings”.

In another issue, the Syrian transitional President also confirmed that his government is closely monitoring the situation on the Syrian coast and will take appropriate measures to ensure stability and address any illegal activities.

The Syrian president concluded by calling on the United States to lift the sanctions imposed on Syria, which were imposed in response to the crimes of the former regime, stressing that the country is moving toward a new phase that requires international support to ensure its stability.

It’s worth noting, that Britain announced on Thursday, that it lifted the asset freeze it had previously imposed on the Syrian defense and interior ministries, as well as several intelligence agencies.