Bashar al-Assad is preparing for a historic moment. The Syrian president will meet with other Arab leaders and ministers at the summit this Friday, marking the first such gathering in 13 years. The Arab League will convene in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Assad, widely criticized for dictatorship, mass displacement, and the brutality that has driven millions from their homes, steps back into the Arab fold after being expelled in 2011. Refugees and human rights advocates view the move as a recognition of a regime that remains accused of grave crimes, while Assad sees it as a pathway out of an escalating economic crisis and a chance to legitimize his governance on the regional stage.
“Syria’s return to the Arab League will not automatically resolve the underlying problems,” commented Mohammed Al-Abdullah, executive director of the Center for Justice and Accountability for Syria. Speaking from exile in the United States, he argued that the move would not erase the extensive abuses committed by the Syrian government. He warned that the maneuver could strengthen Assad’s capacity to control and terrorize the population, noting that the regime’s victory in the civil war has left about half of Syrians displaced from their homes.
road map
Like many Arab states, Syria appears intent on preserving its relationships with key neighbors and regional partners. To that end, the members of the Arab League have linked readmission to a roadmap aimed at resolving the current crisis. The plan envisages several steps, including voluntary refugee repatriation, the withdrawal of foreign forces deemed illegitimate, intensified efforts to combat drug trafficking, and the resumption of work by the Constitutional Commission to draft a new charter for Syria. The United Nations has pursued this constitutional effort for years. In return, Damascus would permit the delivery of humanitarian aid to all those in need within Syrian territory, including areas not currently under government control.
Despite the Arab League’s insistence on a return, Syria’s readmission does not automatically translate into normalized ties with all member states. Several governments have already reconciled with Damascus for their own strategic reasons. “Normalization risks eroding public and political support for refugees and could pressure more states to push them to leave,” warns Al-Abdullah. Nevertheless, ordinary Syrians who fled face the possibility of retaliation and persecution if they return, including threats of torture, sexual violence, and enforced disappearances. The experience of those who have already tried to return illustrates the shattered reality of home, work, and community stability that no longer exists for many.
dollars for restructuring
For Assad, a successful readmission could unlock significant humanitarian and reconstruction aid after years of isolation. Observers note that reconstruction funding could flow more freely if political conditions allow, potentially injecting billions into rebuilding projects and broader investment. Yet, Western sanctions and lingering mistrust, especially from the United States and Europe, create substantial barriers to capital moving to Syria. In many cases after more than a decade of hostility, the regime has offered limited concessions toward a broader political settlement, and the business climate remains fragile.
China’s initiative to restore ties between Saudi Arabia and Iran could help reduce indirect conflicts in the region and has implications for Syria, including in Yemen. Exiled Syrians hope Western powers reassess their stance as other regional actors embrace engagement. Observers note that while several Arab states appear ready to welcome Assad, several Western governments may resist deeper normalization while human rights concerns persist.
“The Arab League’s decision to readmit Syria risk rewarding brutality and leaving victims without justice,” remarked Judy Dempsey in an analysis for the Carnegie Center. “It also underscores a shifting balance in U.S. priorities in the Middle East, potentially increasing risks for Syrians both inside the country and in the diaspora.”