The meteoric rise of Syria's president

In a short time, he has gone from leading a terrorist group to being accepted and recognized as president of a country as unique and strategic as Syria, after more than ten years of suffering several wars at the same time and achieving the flight of dictator Bashar al-Assad and his entourage following Russia's loss of influence.

Saudi Arabia's initiative to include Al-Shara among the guests invited to meet with US President Donald Trump during his visit to Riyadh six months ago signaled a clear Saudi commitment to a radical change in Syria's position on the regional stage.

During the UN General Assembly in New York, the Syrian president had opportunities for meetings, interviews, and photos with other international leaders, despite the many misgivings caused by a figure who, in a very short time, has transformed himself and many of his former militants into a terrorist organization.

Furthermore, mistrust grew during a period of several weeks in which the Alawite minority in Syria suffered harsh repression at the hands of the new Syrian armed forces. The strategic-commercial and business vision that usually prevails in Trump's approach allowed the Syrian president an opportunity to demonstrate his true transformation and his exercise of power in accordance with internationally acceptable parameters, far removed from the strict application of Islamic law.

Breaking international isolation to lift sanctions completely and relaunch the recovery of a country like Syria, devastated by more than ten years of war with more than 300,000 dead, is President Al-Shara's main objective as he is received at the White House by Donald Trump.

Washington supports Saudi Arabia's strategy of considering the Syrian option led by Al-Shara as a good opportunity to gain greater influence in a Middle East region of high strategic value in all sectors and in the face of the lost influence of Iran and Moscow.

The opportunity is conditional until the new power structure in Damascus proves that it is capable of controlling the fight against cross-border terrorist groups, deporting wanted Palestinian fighters, banning armed organizations within Syrian territory, helping to prevent the return of the Islamic State, and taking responsibility for the detention centers for its fighters in the northeast of the country.

It is a demanding test for Al-Shara to continue his meteoric career.