James Denselow

Whilst the eyes of the world may be focused on events in Ukraine a potentially significant policy change has opened the doors to a very different body politic emerging in the future for the north of Syria.

With little in the way of fanfare the US State Department announced a decision to authorise certain economic activities in certain non-regime-held areas of northeast and northwest Syria. The logic, so the statement explained, was to pursue a more active push for economic stabilization in areas liberated from the terrorist group ISIS’s control.

It comes on the heels of the D-ISIS Ministerial in Marrakesh, Morocco, where the United States announced nearly $110 million in stabilization funds for areas liberated from ISIS in Iraq and Syria and stressed the importance of continued Coalition efforts to erode support for violent extremism through initiatives designed to improve stability.

The Commander of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) Mazloum Abdi welcomed the US announcement in a tweet that explained that “we appreciate the US General License for AANES areas to rebuild infrastructure and support our economy, a step that will counter ISIS and give hope to all Syrians,” Abdi said. “We welcome all companies to invest here.”

The decision comes following the Brussels Conference and, according to US spokespeople, months of sensitive negotiations with Syria’s Arab neighbours and Turkey in particular. There is of course an obvious logic to following up the vast military campaign with a similar effort for the next chapter, yet the pivot between defeating ISIS and deciding what happens next has been delayed by a Trump Administration’s indecision about the US posture in the country.

This delay has occurred during a time where a wider debate around post-war reconstruction across Syria was had, led by the Government in Damascus and its allies in Moscow in particular. Although violence in the country has significantly abated across new more frozen conflict lines and Syria’s relationships with its neighbourhood has improved in recent years, significant reconstruction strategies have not manifested.

Instead US-led sanctions and a sustained push back against forced returns of Syrian refugees has led to what is surely an unsustainable status quo with millions of Syrians continuing to live below the poverty line and dependent on humanitarian aid. Humanitarian aid itself in the northwest of the country relies on a UN Security Council Resolution which needs renewing on the 10th July 2022. With relations between the US and Russia worse than in previous years there is considerable uncertainty as to whether this will be extended and what happens to vast number of Syrians if it isn’t.

Meanwhile, the Regime in Damascus responded through the the foreign ministry which said that Syria was "determined to defeat this new conspiracy," encouraging people in the country's north to "bring it down." Yet what exactly ‘it’ is, is hugely uncertain at this time and the test of Washington’s new policy will be the confidence it gives to business investors. With the prospect of Trump returning to the White House after a 2024 election many may choose to hedge their bets.

But they may not and the Kurdish controlled parts of Iraq have traditionally been championed as an oasis of relatively calm and prosperity in a tough neighbourhood. Investing in non-regime controlled parts of Syria in a way that inspires and rejuvenates a part of the country that has seen far too much war and too little peace of the past decade could have a twin purpose of reducing the space for an ISIS revival and showing the wider Syria populace that a alternative future is possible to the eternal Assad dynasty.

Questions will be asked as to whether this opportunity for development will see ‘quick wins’ or longer term strategic development of infrastructure in what could be the most substantial commitment to a ‘statelet’ entity or entities in the north of the country. Iconic modern towers, Dubai-style, may be unlikely and can hardly been argued as a priority but anything that can symbolise and capture the direction of secure departure from a recently bloody history makes a lot of sense. Indeed, fast tracking the development of northeast Syria’s wheat production, ravaged by war and climate change, would be a suitably sensible decision in lieu of Ukraine’s war.

BY: James Denselow

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BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, has announced its sponsorship of the “Innovation and Sustainable Technology Solutions Competition (GU - IST Solutions), hosted by Gulf University at its main campus.
This strategic sponsorship reflects BENEFIT’s active role in advancing technological innovation and fostering sustainable solutions to future challenges. It also seeks to empower Bahraini youth by enhancing their skills, capabilities, and competitiveness in innovation and solution development—contributing meaningfully to the broader goals of sustainable development across all sectors.
As part of BENEFIT’s active involvement in the competition, the company has announced that Hanan Abdulla Hasan, Senior Manager of Public Relations and Communication, will serve on the competition’s supervisory committee. Her upcoming participation reflects BENEFIT’s forward-looking commitment to championing academic and professional excellence.
Commenting on the occasion, Hanan Abdulla Hasan, Senior Manager of Public Relations and Communication at BENEFIT, said, “We are privileged to support this pioneering initiative, which aligns seamlessly with BENEFIT’s enduring commitment to fostering innovation and nurturing the potential of Bahrain’s youth. Our participation is rooted in a deep sense of social responsibility and a firm belief in the pivotal role of innovation in shaping a sustainable future. Through such platforms, we seek to empower the next generation with the knowledge, skills, and foresight required to develop impactful solutions that address future challenges, in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals 2030.”
Dr. Aseel Al Ayash Dean of the College of Engineering in Gulf University commented, “We extend our sincere gratitude to BENEFIT for their generous sponsorship and support of the Innovation and Sustainable Technology Solutions Competition. This contribution plays an instrumental role in helping us achieve the strategic goals of this initiative, namely, cultivating a culture of innovation and sustainability, encouraging efforts that address the imperatives of sustainable development, and enhancing the practical and professional capabilities of our students and participants.”
The event will bring together a diverse spectrum of participants, including secondary school students, university undergraduates, engineers, industry professionals, entrepreneurs, academic researchers, and subject matter experts representing a wide range of disciplines.
The competition seeks to inspire participants to develop and present innovative, sustainable technologies aimed at addressing pressing environmental, social, and economic challenges. It encourages the formulation of business models that integrate advanced technological solutions with core principles of sustainability. Moreover, it serves as a platform for emerging leaders, entrepreneurs, and innovators to contribute to the advancement of the Sustainable Development Goals, promote the ethos of responsible technology, and demonstrate its transformative potential across various sectors.
Attendees will have the opportunity to view a series of project presentations submitted by participants, covering diverse areas such as eco-friendly product design, smart and sustainable innovations, renewable energy technologies, water conservation and management, waste minimisation and recycling, green architectural solutions, and sustainable transportation systems. Outstanding projects will be formally recognised and awarded at the conclusion of the event.