Syria Seeks China Ties After Assad Ouster

Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani, now representing the interim government formed after Bashar al-Assad was ousted by a coalition led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham in December 2024, met with senior U.S. State Department officials in New York for the first time. Syria is seeking a clear roadmap for permanent U.S. sanctions relief, with the U.S. presenting eight conditions, such as dismantling chemical weapons and excluding foreigners from senior government roles. Shaibani also met the Chinese ambassador to the UN, emphasizing Syria's desire for a long-term strategic partnership with China, a key supporter at the UN alongside Russia and Iran. China has provided crucial diplomatic backing for Syria, including multiple Security Council vetoes. These diplomatic initiatives come amid ongoing instability in the region, highlighted by recent attacks on Kurdish fighters in eastern Syria. The new government is focused on diversifying international partnerships and addressing the challenges of post-conflict recovery.