Evaluation

In the last month we saw how the war tensions between US and Israel against Iran continue to cast their shadow over the whole Middle East. Western powers formalize their ties with the Syrian government, and today (May 11th) Syria and the EU will hold the first high-level political talks since the fall of the Assad regime. It is expected that the talks will focus on establishing a political framework for the relations between the EU and Syria and to assess EU support for economical recovery and political transition.

The project of the Autonomous Administration of NES as an official institution is ending, as talks about integration into the Syrian State are becoming the everyday life in NES. The revolutionary movement is working to defend the values and achievements of the revolution as the formal institutions dissolve, but the communes and the grassroots movement continue on its path. Many people is sad about those loses, but at the same time very aware of the reasons behind it.

The decisions of SDF and the DAANES prevented a bloodbath, and everyone on the ground is very aware of that. The lives of the people of NES were put in front of any political agenda, allowing for a relative peace and calm on the ground. The political and military bodies of NES maneuvered in the best way possible to avoid any massacres or long bloody battles. As prisoners exchange go on, families celebrate that their sons and daughters come back home, knowing that in other conditions they wouldn't be able to see them ever again.

At the same time, important political achievements have been reached for kurds in Syria, with their rights formally recognized in the constitution and official decrees. That brings some hopes for political struggle instead of simply continuation of war, but everyone is aware that those agreements mean nothing if people are not organized and ready to fight when the state tries to walk back on any of those achievements. The means of self-defense have also been somewhat preserved, making sure that SDF didn't end up surrendering or simply giving up weapons.

Today is clear that al-Sharaa is a good strategist. He used his cards very well to achieve the central position he wanted. He is a pragmatist with no problems to compromise the ideological lines of his organization in order to strengthen his own grip on Syrian State power. How much he will try to return to his islamist roots as he consolidates power, how much he will simply embrace western capitalist politics and play the role of responsible head of state for western powers is something that will become more clear in time to come.

Revolutionary greetings 🖤