DAMASCUS:
Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister, Prince Faisal bin Farhan, emphasized on Friday that the kingdom is working towards assisting Syria’s new government in the effort to lift international sanctions. This marks his first visit to Damascus since the fall of Bashar al-Assad.
Prince Faisal met with Syria’s interim leader, Ahmed al-Sharaa, who is keen to attract investments from Gulf states to aid the reconstruction of the war-torn nation. The Saudi diplomat traveled to Damascus from Beirut, after holding discussions with Lebanon’s newly appointed leaders on Thursday.
In a joint press conference with his Syrian counterpart, bin Farhan reaffirmed Saudi Arabia’s support for Syria, stressing the urgency of lifting and freezing all sanctions. He noted that Riyadh is actively engaging in discussions with key international players, including the U.S. and the European Union, with positive feedback so far.
The U.S. had already eased some sanctions on Syria following Assad’s removal, and there is an expectation that the EU will take similar steps in an upcoming meeting of foreign ministers.
Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani, who visited Riyadh earlier in January, emphasized that lifting the sanctions would open new avenues for investment, trade, infrastructure rebuilding, and job creation.
The last time Prince Faisal visited Damascus, in April 2023, he met Assad, signaling the end of more than a decade of strained relations between the two countries. Saudi Arabia played a significant role in Syria’s return to the Arab League after relations were severed in 2012 due to Assad’s violent crackdown on pro-democracy protests.
Now, Syria’s leadership is eager for Saudi investment to help reconstruct the country’s war-damaged infrastructure and revitalize its economy. While Saudi Arabia hoped to reduce Syria’s reliance on Iran and curb the illicit captagon trade, their efforts have met with limited success. Syria remains a major producer of the amphetamine-like stimulant, with numerous factories and warehouses uncovered in the country.
In a sign of strengthening ties, Syria’s new government made Saudi Arabia its first foreign destination. During the visit, Foreign Minister Shaibani expressed hopes for a fresh start, leading a delegation that included the Defence Minister and the intelligence chief.
