Syria's first step towards reintegration into the Arab world officially took place after President Bashar al-Assad accepted an invitation to attend the Arab League (AL) summit, taking place today, May 19.
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| President Bashar al-Assad has accepted an invitation to attend the Arab League (AL) summit on May 19. (Source: ITN) |
But how this significant move will affect the future of Syria’s 13-year-old civil war remains an open question. Syria remains a mess to this day.
In addition to the Islamic State (IS) forces that have been defeated, the confrontation between the al-Assad government, supported by Russia and Iran, and the opposition, supported by the West and some Arab countries, continues. Not to mention the Kurdish group, with the help of the US, is planning to establish its own autonomous region in northern Syria.
Meanwhile, the economy is bleak. Syria has no shortage of potential, especially oil. At its peak in 1996, the country produced 582,000 barrels of oil per day, generating $4 billion in oil sales, accounting for a third of the country’s budget. However, by 2015, that figure had dropped to 27,000 barrels per day, and then to 24,000 barrels per day in 2018.
Syria was once a prosperous agricultural country, producing up to 4 million tons of wheat each year, not only enough to meet domestic demand but also exporting to many countries, especially the European Union (EU). However, the comprehensive embargo imposed by the US and EU is causing Syria to suffer a shortage of grain, forcing the Damascus government to import this essential commodity. Half of Syria's population has become refugees.
So far, the US and EU have remained tough on Syria. These countries strongly oppose Syria's re-entry into the AL, while affirming that they will not normalize relations with President al-Assad's regime and lift sanctions. In the Arab world, Qatar and Kuwait have also not approved the re-establishment of diplomatic relations with Damascus.
Many difficult steps are testing Syria.
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