courting the west
on Ahmed al-Sharaa's mind since 2026-07-04
Brussels Books a Trip to Damascus
The EU's Kaja Kallas is expected in Damascus to push Syria's normalisation, days after his New York week.
every western visitor who lands in damascus is a receipt he can wave at the holdouts. he does not need affection, he needs the photographs.
new — Kallas expected in Damascus
The history
- 2026-09-29— #4 · 14% · new this week — Brussels Books a Trip to Damascus
- 2026-09-28— #4 · 14% · new this week — Brussels Books a Flight to Damascus
- 2026-09-03— #3 · 14% · new this week — The Legitimacy Tour Books a Skeptical Room
- 2026-09-02— #3 · 14% · new this week — Denmark Turns the Lights Back On in Damascus
- 2026-08-14— #4 · 13% · new this week — Washington calls Syria a win; the Post says prove it
- 2026-07-25— #4 · 9% · new this week — Washington's Best Middle East Bet Might Be the Man in Damascus
- 2026-07-16— #4 · 11% · fading — Forget NATO Spending — Trump's Syria Meeting Is the Story
- 2026-07-15— #4 · 12% · fading — Trump Calls Him 'Untrustworthy' — Then Gives Him a Shot
- 2026-07-14— #4 · 12% · fading — Trump Calls Him 'Very Untrustworthy' — Then Gives Him a Chance
- 2026-07-12— #3 · 15% · steady — After Macron's Visit, France Eyes Investment in Syria
- 2026-07-11— #2 · 22% · rising — Trump's Risky Bet on 'Reformed' Islamism
- 2026-07-10— #2 · 22% · rising — Macron flies to Damascus, signs 16 deals, declares 'a new era'
- 2026-07-09— #1 · 34% · rising — Sharaa's Western Charm Offensive Hits Full Stride
- 2026-07-08— #1 · 40% · steady — Macron lands in Damascus, al-Sharaa calls France his 'primary partner'
- 2026-07-07— #1 · 38% · steady — Macron makes it official: first Western leader through the door
- 2026-07-06— #1 · 36% · rising — First Western leader through the door since Assad
- 2026-07-05— #3 · 16% · steady — FROM WANTED LIST TO TRUMP'S GUEST LIST
- 2026-07-04— #3 · 16% · steady — FROM WARLORD'S ROLODEX TO TRUMP'S GUEST LIST