Syria’s Interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa, left, is seen upon his arrival in Riyadh on his first overseas go to, Sunday. AFP-Yonhap
Syria’s interim president Ahmed al-Sharaa arrived in Saudi Arabia on Sunday for his first worldwide go to because the toppling of Bashar al-Assad, state media reported.
Accompanied by his overseas minister Asaad al-Shaibani, Sharaa was greeted by Saudi officers as he disembarked, pictures from state tv outlet Al-Ekhbariya confirmed.
The broadcaster mentioned Sharaa was anticipated to satisfy with de facto Saudi ruler Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, however didn’t specify when.
Syrian state information company SANA additionally reported the pair would meet with Prince Mohammed in Riyadh, with out offering additional particulars.
The Syrian presidency had earlier posted an image on X of Sharaa and Shaibani aboard what gave the impression to be a non-public jet on their solution to Saudi Arabia, calling it a „first official go to.“
Sharaa, whose Islamist group led the overthrow of Assad in December, was named interim president on Wednesday.
Saudi Arabia’s King Salman and his son Prince Mohammed had been among the many first to congratulate him on his official appointment.
The Syrian authorities are relying on rich Gulf international locations to finance the reconstruction of their war-ravaged nation and revive its financial system.
In late December, Sharaa said in an interview with the Saudi channel Al-Arabiya that the dominion would „definitely play an necessary function“ in Syria’s future, highlighting a „nice alternative for funding.“
He informed the channel he was born in Saudi Arabia, the place his father labored, and that he had spent the primary seven years of his life there.
‚Strategic service‘
Rabha Seif Allam, a regional skilled on the Al-Ahram Heart for Political and Strategic Research in Cairo, mentioned Riyadh was „taking part in a key function in reintegrating the brand new Syria into the Arab world and onto the worldwide stage.“
She mentioned that Saudi Arabia, the Arab world’s largest financial system, would „immediately profit“ from the stabilisation of Syria.
„Iran is now excluded from the Syrian panorama, weakening its regional affect, and drug trafficking from Syria to the Gulf international locations, which had been a destabilising issue, is now a factor of the previous.“
Distancing Damascus from Tehran was a „strategic service“ to Riyadh, she added.
Although Saudi Arabia and Iran ended a seven-year diplomatic freeze in 2023, the regional heavyweights stay at odds over a number of geopolitical points, together with the civil battle in Syria, the place they backed opposing sides.
Syria can be urgent for worldwide sanctions which have dragged down its financial system to be lifted.
The sanctions date again to 1979, when america labelled Syria a „state sponsor of terrorism,“ however they had been ramped up considerably by Washington and different Western powers when Assad cracked down on anti-government protests in 2011 and sparked the civil battle.
Saudi Arabia’s overseas minister visited Damascus final month and promised to assist safe an finish to the restrictions.
Prince Faisal bin Farhan mentioned throughout his go to that Riyadh was engaged in „energetic dialogue with all related international locations, whether or not america or the European Union, and we’re listening to constructive messages.“
The brand new Syrian authorities have obtained a gentle stream of diplomatic guests since toppling Assad in December.
On Thursday, Damascus obtained Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, who „harassed the pressing have to type a authorities representing all spectrums“ of Syrian society so as „to consolidate stability and transfer ahead with reconstruction, improvement and prosperity initiatives.“ (AFP)
