Diplomacy Syria's new foreign minister goes on first trip abroad
The new Syrian leadership's first trip abroad took Foreign Minister Assaad al-Shibani to Saudi Arabia on Wednesday. Al-Shibani reported on his visit on the short message service X.
02.01.2025, 03:44
SDA
He arrived "in the brotherly Kingdom of Saudi Arabia" accompanied by Syrian Defense Minister Nurhaf Abu Kasra and intelligence chief Anas Chattab, al-Shibani wrote.
"With this first visit in the history of Free Syria, we aim to open a new, bright chapter in Syrian-Saudi relations, befitting the long shared history of the two countries," the new Syrian chief diplomat explained the purpose of his visit. Syrian state media had previously reported that the visit was "at the invitation of the Saudi Arabian foreign minister".
Syrian delegation received at the airport
The Syrian delegation was received at Riyadh International Airport by Saudi Arabia's Deputy Foreign Minister Walid bin Abdulkarim al-Chereiji, according to the Syrian Foreign Ministry. The statement was accompanied by photos showing, among other things, al-Chereiji and al-Shibani shaking hands.
Fighters led by the Islamist militia Hajat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) conquered Damascus on December 8, ending the Assad family's decades-long rule in Syria. The long-time ruler Bashar al-Assad fled to Russia. Apart from Russia, his supporters included Saudi Arabia's rival Iran.
Syria hopes for Saudi investment
Last month, HTS chief Ahmed al-Sharaa received a Saudi Arabian delegation in Damascus, according to government sources in Riyadh. In an interview with the Saudi Arabian broadcaster Al Arabija last week, he said that Saudi Arabia would "certainly play a major role in Syria's future". His country offers "great investment opportunities for all neighboring countries". After 13 years of civil war, Syria's economy and infrastructure are in tatters.
Saudi Arabia had supported Syrian rebels fighting to overthrow Assad since the outbreak of the civil war in 2011. Last year, however, Riyadh restored diplomatic relations with the Assad government and contributed to Syria's return to the Arab League, ending the country's regional isolation.
On Wednesday, the arch-conservative kingdom launched a humanitarian airlift to Syria. Two planes carrying humanitarian aid flew to Damascus. The food, emergency shelters and medical supplies were intended to improve the "difficult" living conditions of the people in Syria, the state news agency SPA reported.
