Syria FM in Saudi Arabia on maiden trip as new rulers reset regional ties

Asaad Al-Shaibani arrived successful Riyadh successful his archetypal overseas sojourn since the removal of Bashar al-Assad’s authorities successful Syria.

Syria’s apical diplomat says helium hopes to unfastened a “new, agleam page” with Saudi Arabia upon arriving successful the kingdom, the archetypal overseas sojourn for Syria’s caller rulers.

The visit, which began precocious connected Wednesday, came little than a period aft erstwhile Syrian President Bashar al-Assad was ousted by rebel forces connected December 8.

“I person conscionable arrived successful the sisterly Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, accompanied by the Minister of Defence Murhaf Abu Qasra and the Head of the General Intelligence Service Anas Khattab,” Asaad al-Shaibani posted connected X.

“Through this archetypal sojourn successful the past of Free Syria, we aspire to unfastened a new, agleam leafage successful Syrian-Saudi relations that befits the agelong shared past betwixt the 2 countries,” helium added.

Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani is received by Saudi Deputy Foreign Minister Waleed El Khereiji successful Riyadh, Saudi Arabia [Saudi Press Agency/Handout via Reuters]

Al-Shaibani was appointed overseas curate connected December 21 by Syria’s interim government, becoming the country’s archetypal apical diplomat since al-Assad’s overthrow.

Earlier connected Wednesday, Syrian authorities media said the delegation was visiting the kingdom “at the invitation of the Saudi overseas minister”.

A connection shared by Syria’s Foreign Ministry said Saudi Arabia’s Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Waleed bin Abdulkarim El Khereiji received the delegation astatine the planetary airdrome successful Riyadh.

The Syrian delegation includes Defence Minister Murhaf Abu Qasra and General Intelligence Chief Anas Khattab, underscoring the visit’s diplomatic and strategical significance.

In an exclusive interview with Al Jazeera aired connected Tuesday, al-Shaibani called for the lifting of each Western sanctions connected Syria arsenic helium elaborate the caller administration’s plans for the country’s future.

Adam Clements, a erstwhile US diplomat and Pentagon official, said Saudi Arabia is moving to found beardown ties with Syria arsenic Iran loses its power implicit the country.

“I deliberation this is precise significant,” helium told Al Jazeera connected Thursday. He said that from a “diplomatic standpoint”, Riyadh wants to forge stronger ties with the caller Syrian administration.

“Saudi Arabia would person a large relation arsenic good … astatine the outset of operation and reconstruction. Syria is precise babelike connected Iran for lipid and fuel, and truthful I deliberation Gulf States could besides enactment that arsenic well,” helium said.

In an interrogation with Saudi-owned Al Arabiya tv connected Sunday, Syria’s de facto person Ahmed al-Sharaa, besides referred to arsenic Abu Mohammed al-Julani said Riyadh “will surely person a ample relation successful Syria’s future”, pointing to “a large concern accidental for each neighbouring countries”.

Al-Sharaa heads the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) radical that led the rebel violative that ousted al-Assad.

Syria’s system and infrastructure person been devastated by much than 13 years of civilian warfare that began with a crackdown connected pro-democracy protests successful 2011.

Saudi Arabia severed ties with al-Assad’s authorities successful 2012 and backed Syrian rebels seeking to overthrow him aboriginal successful the country’s civilian war. In 2023, the Arab League readmitted Syria aft much than a decennary of suspension.

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Al Jazeera and quality agencies