Israel shocked by Syria issue at NATO

While the rogue state of Israel's plot to sabotage the NATO Leaders' Summit held in Türkiye—using F-35 issues and Greek provocations—was thwarted, a critical decision announced in Ankara represents an economic and geopolitical blow to the occupying power. US President Donald Trump opened the door to a new era in the Middle East by formally notifying Syrian President Ahmed Shara—via a letter sent following their meeting at the NATO Summit—of the decision to remove Syria from the list of state sponsors of terrorism. In his letter, Trump stated that he had submitted the necessary notification to Congress and that, following a 45-day statutory review period, the obstacles to Syria's reconstruction would be lifted; he also emphasized that American companies were ready to invest in Syria. This move to revoke a status that had been in effect for nearly half a century is regarded as a historic development, not only for Damascus but also in terms of the regional balance of power. Earlier in the week, Syrian President Ahmed Shara had emphasized: "We aim to reposition Syria as a safe and vital hub, and as an indispensable civilizational and economic bridge between East and West."

FINANCIAL BLOCKADE LIFTED

Removing Syria from the list of "state sponsors of terrorism" will primarily pave the way for the country to reconnect with the international financial system. Following the completion of Congress's 45-day review period, Syrian banks are expected to regain access to the SWIFT system, establish correspondent banking relationships with foreign banks, and see international money transfers return to normal. This development is of critical importance to the Syrian economy, which has been deprived of external financing for years due to sanctions. It is anticipated that investment processes will accelerate as legal and financial risks diminish for Gulf capital, Turkish investors, and international companies.

Reconstruction to accelerate

According to experts, the reconstruction of war-torn Syria will generate a massive economic volume—estimated at between $250 billion and $400 billion—in the coming years. The latest move by the US removes one of the major political obstacles standing in the way of this reconstruction process actually getting underway. Thanks to Türkiye’s geographical advantage, cross-border connections, logistics capacity, and long-standing operations in northern Syria, Turkish construction companies are expected to take the lead in projects involving power plants, ports, highways, housing, and infrastructure. Public investment funds from Gulf nations are also expected to play a significant role in financing these efforts. Consequently, Syria's reconstruction is evolving into a strategic process that will accelerate not only economic activity but also regional integration.

TÜRKİYE’s central role gains international backing

The move taken by Washington is also viewed as a development that further strengthens Türkiye's central position regarding the Syria dossier. Thanks to its extensive land border, military presence on the ground, relationships with local actors, and security capabilities, Ankara stands as an indispensable partner in the restructuring of Syria. While Gulf nations possess the economic power to fund reconstruction, there is no other regional actor capable of assuming Türkiye's role regarding security, logistics, and institutional coordination on the ground. This situation also demonstrates that the vision of a "strong and centralized Syrian state"—long advocated by Ankara—is gaining support.

ISRAEL'S PLANS UPENDED

While assessments suggesting that Israel prefers a weak central authority in Syria have frequently been voiced recently, the decision taken by the US presents a different picture. Washington's establishment of direct contact with the Ahmed Shara administration, the initiation of a process to lift sanctions, and the announcement that American companies could participate in Syria's reconstruction are viewed as significant steps that confer international legitimacy upon the Damascus administration.

INTEGRATION TO STRENGTHEN

The emerging picture indicates that, following the NATO Summit, a model for Syria is coming to the fore—one that is stronger, economically revitalized, integrated into the international system, and supported by Türkiye, the US, and Gulf nations.