Brighter horizons in the Middle East

The Middle East, long a crucible of conflict, is now witnessing remarkable developments that signal a potential turning point for regional stability and prosperity. Three pivotal events highlight this shift, each carrying the promise of a reimagined geopolitical landscape under American leadership.

First, Syria’s Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shibani arrived in Washington on Sept. 18, 2025—the first high-level visit of its kind in over 25 years. This historic trip is part of a U.S.-led initiative to normalize ties with Syria’s post-Assad government. It includes plans to lift sanctions and mediate talks between Damascus’s new Islamist rulers and Israel. Second, Syria’s interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa addressed the UN General Assembly yesterday in New York—a symbolic move toward Syria’s reintegration into global diplomacy and a step forward in U.S.-brokered security discussions with Israel. Third, news reports indicate that Syria and Israel are nearing multiple agreements by year’s end, focused on border security, demilitarization, and halting Israeli operations in Syrian territory.

These developments, unfolding under President Donald Trump’s bold foreign policy agenda, offer a hopeful vision: expanding the Abraham Accords to include Syria—and potentially Lebanon—thereby fostering a Middle East where cooperation supersedes division.

The significance of these events cannot be overstated. Al-Shibani’s visit to Washington signals a pragmatic U.S. pivot, with the Trump administration moving swiftly to lift sanctions such as the Caesar Act and facilitate dialogue between Syria and Israel. This follows Trump’s May 2025 meeting with al-Sharaa in Riyadh, where he urged normalization with Israel as a cornerstone of regional stability. Al-Sharaa’s UN speech—the first by a Syrian leader in nearly six decades—positions him as a figure seeking global legitimacy and economic aid, while committing to counterterrorism and border security agreements. The reported agreements include a demilitarized buffer zone and Israeli withdrawal from post-Assad territorial gains—measures that could pave the way for broader economic and security cooperation.

These steps align with Trump’s vision of an expanded Abraham Accords—originally launched in 2020 to normalize Israel’s ties with the UAE, Bahrain, Morocco, and Sudan, the accords have already generated over $5 billion in annual trade. Including Syria, and possibly Lebanon, could transform the region into a commerce-driven bloc that counters Iranian influence and fosters enduring peace.

These developments are a game-changer for the Middle East and America’s key ally, Israel. The U.S.-mediated thaw with Syria aims to stabilize the region by isolating Iranian proxies and integrating Damascus into a pro-Israel security framework. Trump’s approach seeks to reframe Arab-Muslim perceptions of Israel—not as the sole enemy, but as a strategic partner against shared threats.

So far, Trump appears successful in rehabilitating Syria, providing incentives for its new leadership to act pragmatically, despite its clear Islamist origins. The new Syria—at least for now—seems willing to prioritize reconstruction and de-escalation over ideological rigidity.

This should be viewed with cautious optimism, as a precursor to the Abraham Accords’ expansion—where economic and security partnerships replace longstanding hostilities and strengthen Israel’s position as a regional anchor. While aspirational, this optimistic picture is grounded in emerging realities.

The U.S.-brokered agreements expected by year’s end could stabilize the Syria-Israel border and lay the foundation for Syria’s economic reconstruction within the Accords framework—envisioning shared infrastructure, energy projects, and missile defense systems. Lebanon, reviving by Hezbollah’s defeat, may follow suit, with U.S. envoys hinting at “big announcements” for 2026. Gulf states, already invested in the Accords, are likely to support Syria’s reintegration by offering aid in return for anti-Iran commitments.

This growing network of alliances could marginalize radical actors, fostering a Middle East where sectarian communities coexist in peace, not perpetual conflict.

Still, caution is warranted regarding Ahmad al-Sharaa. His past ties to al-Qaeda—though reportedly severed in 2016—raise legitimate questions about his long-term aspirations. His interim government maintains a pronounced Islamist character, with many key positions held by former members of the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham terrorist organization. Moreover, his failure to adequately protect minorities—Christians, Shiites, and Druze—is troubling and merits continued scrutiny.

Recent actions such as expelling Palestinian militants and engaging in U.S.-backed negotiations suggest a pragmatic shift, but his ability to fully integrate into international politics remains untested. Time will reveal whether he can balance domestic Islamist pressures with global expectations, especially on sensitive issues like Syrian sovereignty over the Golan Heights, which remains a key sticking point in talks with Israel.

Still, this is a remarkable moment. Syria’s willingness to negotiate with Israel and seek legitimacy through the UN provides hope that Syria could follow in the footsteps of other Abraham Accords signatories—prioritizing prosperity over conflict.

Under President Trump, these developments reflect a broader vision for the Middle East—one where radical Islamic movements are increasingly sidelined by Arab-Muslim nations embracing moderation and coexistence. Trump’s strategy, combining military resolve with economic incentives, has already reshaped the regional landscape in significant ways.

Normalized ties between Israel and Arab states offer real, tangible benefits: trade, tourism, and joint defense initiatives. The United States is laying the groundwork for a new regional order, where extremism is eclipsed by pragmatism. This is the promise of Trump’s Middle East policy: a hopeful path toward a future where peace is not merely aspirational, but achievable. We hold fast to that hope, trusting that these remarkable developments are only the first steps toward a transformed region.