Asaad Al-Shaibani arrived in Riyadh in his first abroad go to for the reason that elimination of Bashar al-Assad’s regime in Syria.
Syria’s prime diplomat says he hopes to open a “new, vibrant 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 insurgent 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 Common 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, vibrant 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 prime diplomat since al-Assad’s overthrow.
Earlier on Wednesday, Syrian state media mentioned the delegation was visiting the dominion “on the invitation of the Saudi international minister”.
An announcement shared by Syria’s International Ministry mentioned Saudi Arabia’s Vice Minister of International Affairs Waleed bin Abdulkarim El Khereiji obtained the delegation on the worldwide airport in Riyadh.
The Syrian delegation contains Defence Minister Murhaf Abu Qasra and Common Intelligence Chief Anas Khattab, underscoring the go to’s diplomatic and strategic significance.
In an unique interview with Al Jazeera aired on Tuesday, al-Shaibani referred to 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, mentioned Saudi Arabia is working to determine robust ties with Syria as Iran loses its affect over the nation.
“I believe that is very important,” he informed Al Jazeera on Thursday. He mentioned that from a “diplomatic standpoint”, Riyadh needs to forge stronger ties with the brand new Syrian administration.
“Saudi Arabia would have an enormous position as effectively … 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 help that as effectively,” he mentioned.
In an interview with Saudi-owned Al Arabiya tv on Sunday, Syria’s de facto chief Ahmed al-Sharaa, additionally known as Abu Mohammed al-Julani mentioned Riyadh “will definitely have a big position 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 financial system and infrastructure have been devastated by greater than 13 years of civil warfare 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 warfare. In 2023, the Arab League readmitted Syria after greater than a decade of suspension.
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Sourcing information and pictures from aljazeera.com
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