Syria-Lebanon Rapprochement Masks Enduring Strategic Risks for America

The recent visit of Syria's Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shibani to Lebanon signals an apparent thaw in relations between two neighbors long marked by hostility and mistrust. However, beneath this veneer of diplomacy lies a complex web of geopolitical gamesmanship that threatens to undermine America’s pursuit of Middle Eastern stability and national security. Old Battles, New Faces: What Has Really Changed? Since the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime in early December 2024, Syria and Lebanon have sought to mend fractured ties. Yet, this rapprochement must be scrutinized through the lens of American security interests. The border between these nations remains a...