Syria’s Foreign Minister Visits Saudi Arabia in First Overseas Trip
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Hashim Sheikh - . January 2, 2025
- . Update: January 2, 2025 8:30 pm
Syrian new foreign minister Asaad al-Shaibani, appointed to this position few days ago, has gone on his first official trip to Saudi Arabia. This visit may mark a turning point in relations between Syria and the region with al-Shaibani speaking of a “new, bright page” of relations between Syria and Saudi Arabia.
The delegation is headed by Defense Minister Murhaf Abu Qasra and General Intelligence Chief Anas Khattab and was welcomed in Riyadh by Saudi Deputy Foreign Minister Waleed El Khereiji. The Syrian interim government hopes to strengthen relations with other countries and gain their aid for Syria’s rebuilding process. Al-Shaibani urged his western counterparts to remove sanctions saying that Syria needs the economic boost following years of war.
Having always been an enemy of al-Assad, Saudi Arabia has become one of the key players in the process of defining the Syrian state future. The government of Syria’s de facto head, Ahmed al-Sharaa, noted Riyadh’s interest in becoming a major investor and stressed the role of the kingdom in the rebuff of the Syrian state. The visit is significant given over a decade of disorder has seen Syria’s economy devastated by civil war, underlining political transition and regional cooperation.
