our pillars
US-Syria partnership
Syria is an emerging cornerstone of US engagement in the Levant, with a bilateral relationship being rebuilt on the foundations of sanctions relief, energy investment, and close coordination on regional stabilization. The Syria Project works to deepen bilateral cooperation by promoting dialogue on strategic economic, security, and governance issues. The project directly engages with policy makers and experts in Washington and Damascus to provide a venue for discussions, deliver impactful policy recommendations and contribute to concrete, tangible outcomes that strengthen the US-Syria relationship.
Economic growth & energy
The Syria Project brings together key stakeholders from the public and private sectors to provide analysis on Syria’s economic landscape. The project advances Syria’s economic recovery by convening senior energy executives, Syrian government officials, international investors, and bankers to identify concrete pathways for private sector engagement and produce actionable research on the investment climate, while creating a platform to connect Syrian economic policymakers to US counterparts. It also works to translate Syria’s energy potential to international audiences at a moment when the strong relationship between Damascus and Washington has aligned to create a generational opportunity.
Governance
The Syria Project produces research on constitutional frameworks, transitional justice, civil-military relations, integration of returning Syrian migrants, and the social contract between the Syrian state and its citizens while creating a platform for coordination regarding needed institutional reforms. Through joint reports, dialogues, and high-level convenings, the Syria Project works to ensure that Syria’s governance trajectory reflects not only the ambition of this historic moment, but also the institutional depth needed to stabilize Syria politically and economically.
Regional reintegration
Syria’s reintegration into the broader region is a prerequisite for its own recovery and a stabilizing force for the broader Middle East. Positioned along crucial pipeline corridors and trade routes, Syria’s trajectory can shape regional political and economic dynamics in a unique manner. The Syria Project advances Syria’s regional reintegration by convening regional and global stakeholders alongside Syrian government representatives to develop shared frameworks for economic cooperation, energy connectivity, and security coordination.
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Through our Rafik Hariri Center for the Middle East, the Atlantic Council works with allies and partners in Europe and the wider Middle East to protect US interests, build peace and security, and unlock the human potential of the region.