Syria’s Foreign Minister is in Saudi Arabia on his first trip as the new rulers reset regional relations | Syrian war news

Asaad Al-Shaibani arrived in Riyadh on his first foreign visit since the overthrow of Bashar al-Assad’s regime in Syria.

Syria’s top diplomat says he hopes to open a “new and bright page” with Saudi Arabia upon his arrival in the kingdom, the first foreign visit by Syria’s new rulers.

The visit, which began late Wednesday, comes less than a month after the visit of former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad She was expelled by rebel forces On December 8th.

Asaad Al-Shaibani said in his account on the X website: “I have just arrived in the sisterly Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, accompanied by Defense Minister Murhaf Abu Qasra and the head of the General Intelligence Service, Anas Khattab.”

He added: “Through this first visit in the history of a free Syria, we aspire to open a new and bright page in Syrian-Saudi relations worthy of the long shared history between the two countries.”

Al-Shaibani was appointed Foreign Minister on December 21 by the Syrian interim government, becoming the country’s first senior diplomat since the ouster of Assad.

Earlier on Wednesday, Syrian official media reported that the delegation Visit the Kingdom “At the invitation of the Saudi Foreign Minister.”

A statement by the Syrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that Saudi Deputy Foreign Minister Al-Waleed bin Abdul Karim Al-Khuraiji received the delegation at the international airport in Riyadh.

The Syrian delegation includes Defense Minister Murhaf Abu Qasra and General Intelligence Director Anas Khattab, which confirms the diplomatic and strategic importance of the visit.

in Exclusive interview In a program broadcast on Al Jazeera on Tuesday, Al-Shibani called for the lifting of all Western sanctions imposed on Syria, as he detailed the new administration’s plans for the country’s future.

Adam Clements, a former American diplomat and Pentagon official, said that Saudi Arabia is working to establish strong relations with Syria as Iran loses its influence over the country.

“I think this is very important,” he told Al Jazeera on Thursday. He said that from a “diplomatic perspective”, Riyadh wants to establish stronger relations with the new Syrian administration.

“Saudi Arabia will also have a big role…in the beginning of construction and reconstruction. “Syria relies heavily on Iran for oil and fuel, so I think the Gulf countries can support that as well.”

In an interview with the Saudi-owned Al Arabiya channel on Sunday, Syria’s de facto leader said Ahmed Al-Sharaa, nicknamed Abu Muhammad Al-Julani He said that Riyadh “will certainly have a major role in Syria’s future,” noting “a great investment opportunity for all neighboring countries.”

Al-Shara heads Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham, which led the opposition offensive that ousted Assad.

Syria’s economy and infrastructure have been devastated by the more than 13-year-old civil war that began with the suppression of pro-democracy protests in 2011.

Saudi Arabia cut ties with Assad’s government in 2012 and supported Syrian rebels seeking to oust him early in the country’s civil war. In 2023, the Arab League readmitted Syria more than a decade after it was suspended.