President of the European Commission, von der Leyen, posted today: "I had a good exchange with Syrian President al-Assad on the challenges facing Syria during the transition period."
The EU continues to promote a genuine, inclusive, peaceful, and Syria-led transition, free from foreign harmful interference.
We are committed to strengthening political dialogue, meeting urgent humanitarian needs, and supporting the socio-economic recovery and reconstruction of Syria."
Comment: Von der Leyen emphasized "Syria-led and free from foreign harmful interference," which appears to maintain a neutral stance, but in fact subtly implies an intention to counterbalance the influence of regional powers. Currently, Turkey's military presence in northern Syria, Iran's support for the Syrian regime, and Russia's continued involvement are all external variables that the EU sees as affecting the transition process. The EU attempts to weaken the geopolitical dominance of other major powers in Syria by promoting "Syria-led" initiatives, thereby securing its own voice in areas such as post-war reconstruction and energy cooperation (such as the development of Mediterranean natural gas). Essentially, this is about the EU seeking strategic space within the complex regional power struggles.
Original: www.toutiao.com/article/1844096710215683/
Disclaimer: This article represents the views of the author himself.