Sharaa has been widely praised as a pragmatist. But his pivot on Russia—a full partner in Bashar al-Assad’s violence against both HTS and the Syrian people—is still remarkable.
In 2019, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov declared that “the den of terrorists must be destroyed.” He was referring Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), the militant group whose leader, Ahmed al-Sharaa, met Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on Wednesday.
In 2019, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov declared that “the den of terrorists must be destroyed.” He was referring Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), the militant group whose leader, Ahmed al-Sharaa, met Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on Wednesday.
Sharaa has been widely praised as a pragmatist. But his pivot on Russia—a full partner in Bashar al-Assad’s violence against both HTS and the Syrian people—is still remarkable.
There is no doubt that Damascus has much to gain from the relationship. Sharaa is seeking concrete support, particularly weapons, that he urgently needs while also diversifying his network of alliances. Still, such a strategy will carry serious risks. If it goes too far, Syria may face growing Western disapproval, as well as a backlash from its own citizens.
Sharaa’s pragmatic
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