On 23 January 2025, Dr. Michael Sharnoff and Professor Anne Moisan hosted a virtual roundtable titled “The Post-Assad Era in Syria” with a MENA program Alumnus, Brigadier General Antoine Abisamra. His timely talk was based on his current fieldwork on the ground in Syria and his unique security background serving in various capacities, from Defense Attache in the U.S. to commanding the Special Operations and Hostage Rescue Unit. This virtual roundtable did a deep dive into Syria’s domestic political and security challenges since the collapse of the Assad regime in December 2024. It also analyzed its regional and international impact. The event included 10 participants from Albania, Algeria, Canada, Iraq, Italy, Jordan, Lebanon, Mauritania, Türkiye, and the United States, and provided a follow-up conversation on relevant topics with partners who participated in the “Security Opportunities in the MENA Region” seminar from 19–23 August 2024 and “Conflict Resolution, Cooperation and Challenges in the MENA Region” from 9–13 December 2024.
Course Director Dr. Michael Sharnoff and Deputy Course Director Professor Anne Moisan led the virtual roundtable. Participants from defense, security, and diplomatic establishments were encouraged to share their perspectives on how Syria can achieve stability, deter violent extremist organizations from re-emerging, and how regional countries and the United States can support this process. By hearing different regional viewpoints and voices and establishing a strong network/pool of security experts, participants were comfortable providing candid insights/context on how best to advance cooperation and strengthen trust as a strategic national interest for all parties. All discussions were held off-the-record under the Chatham House Rule of non-attribution.