This forum was the third in the series on the forward path for Syria; the earlier two were held in Doha in February 2025 and in Rome in May 2025. The first forum was organised by GISR in the immediate aftermath of the fall of the Assad regime and brought together experts from the Syrian diaspora. The overwhelming consensus that emerged from this discussion was that Syria should lead and be given the agency to shape its destiny as it moves forward. The second forum was jointly organised by GISR and the Italian think tank Med-OR on the heels of US President Donald Trump’s maiden visit to the Middle East in his second term, and focused on the European perspective on developments in Syria. The common sentiment that emerged from this discussion was that the current leader, Ahmad Al Sharaa, is best placed to lead the embattled country and must receive the full backing of the West. The most recent forum in Washington, jointly organised by GISR and Stimson Centre, and the focus of this report, follows the historic UN speech of Ahmad Al Sharaa, the first by a Syrian head of State in 60 years. It brought together senior officials from Syria’s new administration, regional diplomats, and international policy experts, primarily from the United States, to build further on the earlier two events on the optimal path for Syria to build its foundations to address the multifaceted political, security, economic, and social challenges besieging the country.

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