Asaad Al-Shaibani arrived in Riyadh in his first abroad go to because the removing of Bashar al-Assad’s regime in Syria.
Syria’s high diplomat says he hopes to open a “new, shiny web page” with Saudi Arabia upon arriving within the kingdom, the primary international go to for Syria’s new rulers.
The go to, which started late on Wednesday, got here lower than a month after former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad was ousted by rebel forces on December 8.
“I’ve simply arrived within the sisterly Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, accompanied by the Minister of Defence Murhaf Abu Qasra and the Head of the Basic Intelligence Service Anas Khattab,” Asaad al-Shaibani posted on X.
“By this primary go to within the historical past of Free Syria, we aspire to open a brand new, shiny web page in Syrian-Saudi relations that befits the lengthy shared historical past between the 2 nations,” he added.
Al-Shaibani was appointed international minister on December 21 by Syria’s interim authorities, turning into the nation’s first high diplomat since al-Assad’s overthrow.
Earlier on Wednesday, Syrian state media stated the delegation was visiting the kingdom “on the invitation of the Saudi international minister”.
A press release shared by Syria’s International Ministry stated Saudi Arabia’s Vice Minister of International Affairs Waleed bin Abdulkarim El Khereiji acquired the delegation on the worldwide airport in Riyadh.
The Syrian delegation contains Defence Minister Murhaf Abu Qasra and Basic Intelligence Chief Anas Khattab, underscoring the go to’s diplomatic and strategic significance.
In an exclusive interview with Al Jazeera aired on Tuesday, al-Shaibani known as for the lifting of all Western sanctions on Syria as he detailed the brand new administration’s plans for the nation’s future.
Adam Clements, a former US diplomat and Pentagon official, stated Saudi Arabia is working to ascertain robust ties with Syria as Iran loses its affect over the nation.
“I believe that is very vital,” he instructed Al Jazeera on Thursday. He stated that from a “diplomatic standpoint”, Riyadh needs to forge stronger ties with the brand new Syrian administration.
“Saudi Arabia would have an enormous function as nicely … on the outset of building and reconstruction. Syria could be very depending on Iran for oil and gasoline, and so I believe Gulf States might additionally assist that as nicely,” he stated.
In an interview with Saudi-owned Al Arabiya tv on Sunday, Syria’s de facto chief Ahmed al-Sharaa, also referred to as Abu Mohammed al-Julani stated Riyadh “will definitely have a big function in Syria’s future”, pointing to “an enormous funding alternative for all neighbouring nations”.
Al-Sharaa heads the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) group that led the insurgent offensive that ousted al-Assad.
Syria’s economic system and infrastructure have been devastated by greater than 13 years of civil conflict that started with a crackdown on pro-democracy protests in 2011.
Saudi Arabia severed ties with al-Assad’s authorities in 2012 and backed Syrian rebels looking for to overthrow him early within the nation’s civil conflict. In 2023, the Arab League readmitted Syria after greater than a decade of suspension.
