Strategic shifts in the regionRuch opens by stressing that Syria is undergoing profound strategic changes. He recalls predicting a decade ago that the old Syrian order would collapse, though he did not foresee such rapid change. These shifts, he argues, will shape not only the Middle East but also West Asia and Europe, especially regarding refugees. However, Ruch notes Arab mistrust persists, recalling how Egyptian women during the Arab Spring dismissed Turkish claims of returning. Yet the stakes are immense: the future of Syria will ripple across West Asia, Europe and the balance of global power.