Syria’s interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa arrived in Saudi Arabia on Sunday on his first official visit abroad since assuming his post last week. He met with Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, for talks on supporting Syria and its stability and people.
Riyadh has been nurturing relations with the new authorities in Syria that ousted President Bashar al-Assad on December 8, 2024. Since then, the authorities have formed an interim government, dissolved the parliament of the former regime and suspended the old constitution.
A Saudi official had told Asharq Al-Awsat in December that the Kingdom had upheld a firm and constant position towards Syria focused on the importance of maintaining its security and territorial integrity away from foreign interference. The position stems from its belief that the Syrians alone have the right to manage their own affairs and determine their fate through internal dialogue that would resolve all of their country’s crises.
Political support
No sooner had the “military operations administration” announced its seizure of Damascus on December 8, as well as several measures to ensure security and peace, that the Saudi Foreign Ministry issued a statement to express its support to these positive steps. The steps aimed to protect the Syrian people and maintain calm and state institutions.
The Ministry stressed at the time its solidarity with the Syrian people during that pivotal moment in their country’s history.
Saudi Arabia called on the international community to cooperate with Syria and help it achieve the aspirations of its people so that they can overcome the “horrors of the past that they had endure for several years and that claimed the lives of hundreds of thousands and left millions displaced.”
It noted that Syria had suffered from foreign militias that sought to impose foreign agendas on the people, urging the need to instead refrain from meddling in the country’s internal affairs.
“It is time for the Syrian people to live a dignified life, for all segments of society to shape a prosperous future and for Syria to reclaim its natural position in the Arab and Islamic worlds,” urged the Kingdom.
Riyadh had also repeatedly condemned Israel’s efforts to “sabotage Syria’s efforts to restore its security and stability,” adding that the occupied Golan Heights are Syrian territories.
Several media reports said in December that that a Saudi delegation headed by an advisor at the Royal Court had met with Sharaa in Damascus at the time.
Sharaa, for his part, sat down for an interview with Asharq Al-Awsat on December 19, in which he said: “Saudi Arabia has set very bold plans and boasts a development vision that we also aspire for.”
“There is no doubt that our interests intersect, whether in economic or development cooperation or in other fields,” he remarked.
In televised statements, Sharaa had said that he is proud of having been born and raised in Saudi Arabia, highlighting the Kingdom’s efforts to restore calm in Syria. He also cited its Vision 2030 and spoke of its major role in Syria’s future.
Official visits and humanitarian aid
With the dawn of the new year, Saudi Arabia launched an air bridge with Syria to deliver humanitarian aid, including food and medical supplies, to help ease the suffering of its people and bolster their country’s stability. Sixteen planes carrying relief aid have so far been flown from Saudi Arabia to Syria.
It has also opened a land corridor for relief, with 114 trucks loaded with humanitarian aid having crossed into Syria.
Saudi Arabia has said that there is no limit to the aid it is willing to send to Syria, stressing that the corridors will remain open until the humanitarian situation in the country is resolved.
In January, ministers from the new Syrian government paid a visit to Saudi Arabia. The officials included the ministers of foreign affairs and defense, as well as the chief of intelligence. The delegation met with their Saudi counterparts and several other officials.
Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shibani would return to the Kingdom days later to represent his country at the expanded Arab and international ministerial meetings tackling the situation in Syria. Saudi Arabia had called for the meetings that were held on January 12.
Shibani met with his Saudi counterpart Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah during that trip. Pince Faisal had underlined the importance of lifting sanctions on Syria, saying they are hindering reconstruction efforts and opportunities to achieve development and stability.
Saudi Vision 2030
Speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos in January, Shibani said his country was drawing inspiration over its future from several models, including Saudi Vision 2030.
On January 24, Prince Faisal visited Damascus, marking the first trip by a Saudi foreign minister to Syria since the regime’s ouster.
He met with Sharaa for talks on Syria’s security, stability and territorial integrity. They also discussed means to support Syria on the political, economic and humanitarian levels.
Prince Faisal reiterated the importance of speeding up efforts to lift the sanctions on Syria to facilitate efforts to revive the country and achieve its stability.
Saudi Arabia is involved in active dialogue with the concerned countries to that end, he stressed.
Shibani, for his part, praised Saudi Arabia’s support to his country and how it is leveraging its relations with the US to help lift the sanctions.
