Syrian President Bashar Assad has landed in Saudi Arabia to attend the Arab League summit, his first visit to the oil-rich kingdom since Syria’s conflict began in 2011, Syrian state media said.
Assad’s attendance at the Arab League summit, which begins on Friday, May 19, 2023, is expected to cement Syria’s return to the Arab group following a 12-year suspension and open a new chapter of relations after more than a decade of tensions.
The 22-member group, which is gathering in the Saudi city of Jeddah, recently reinstated Syria and is now poised to welcome Assad back into its ranks. The Syrian President was officially invited to attend the summit last week.
During Syria’s civil war, Saudi Arabia had been a key backer of armed opposition groups attempting to overthrow Assad. However, in recent months, Riyadh has called for dialogue to end the conflict that has killed half a million people and displaced half of Syria’s pre-war population.
Assad’s troops have taken control of much of Syria thanks to his main allies Russia and Iran that helped tip the balance of power in his favor.
Relations between Syria and Saudi Arabia had been tense since Assad took office in 2000, following the death of his late father and former President, Hafaz Assad. The two countries cut relations in 2012, at the height of Syria’s conflict. However, last week, they agreed on reopening their embassies.
In April, Syrian Foreign Minister, Faisal Mekdad visited Riyadh and his Saudi counterpart, Prince Faisal bin Farhan, visited Damascus and met with Assad.
Saudi Crown Prince, Mohammed bin Salman has been striving for peace in the region and over the past months, Riyadh has improved its relations with Iran, restored ties with Syria and is ending the kingdom’s yearslong war in Yemen.
Iran, a major supporter of the Syrian government in the country’s conflict, signed an agreement in China in March to resume relations with Saudi Arabia.
The renewed Saudi-Iran ties are expected to have positive effects on Middle East countries where the two nations support rival groups.
Arab Foreign Ministers Welcome Syria’s Return To The Arab League
Meanwhile, on Wednesday, May 17, 2023, Arab Foreign Ministers welcomed Syria back to the Arab League and called for a cease-fire in conflict-hit Sudan.
Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister, Prince Faisal bin Farhan stated on Wednesday that the region is at a crossroads, facing a host of challenges. He called for cooperation between Arab countries to achieve security, stability and economic prosperity.
Bin Farhan also welcomed Syria’s return, as did the league’s Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul Gheit and Algerian Foreign Minister Ahmed Attaf.
However, a few Arab countries remain skeptical of Syria’s return to the league, primarily Qatar.
Qatar’s top diplomat, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, disclosed that his country opposes Syria’s return but that it doesn’t want to stand “against the Arab consensus.” Each Arab country, however, can unilaterally normalize relations with Syria, he said.
For that to happen from Qatar’s perspective, Syria needs to go “through a just and comprehensive solution” to its conflict, Sheikh Mohammed added.
