Saudi Arabia Says Ready to 'Participate in Transformation' in Syria

Asaad Hassan Sheibani, the foreign minister of the new Syrian government, stated on Friday, January 4, in a post on the 'X' network that during his visit to Saudi Arabia, he emphasized the formation of an efficient government based on participation that includes all components of Syrian society. In his discussions with Saudi officials, he also referred to an economic development plan that would pave the way for investment and strategic partnership. Sheibani mentioned that Saudi Arabia has also emphasized its readiness to participate in creating transformation in Syria and supporting its unity and territorial integrity. The Syrian foreign minister stated that Saudi Arabia has expressed its support for the Syrian people in their efforts to achieve security, stability, and prosperity. The Saudi state news agency reported that the discussions between the foreign minister of the new Syrian government and senior Saudi officials focused on preserving Syrian state institutions, their capabilities, and facilitating their reintegration into the Arab and Islamic world. Sheibani arrived in Saudi Arabia on Wednesday, January 2, with a high-ranking Syrian delegation, including the Minister of Defense and the Head of Intelligence. This was his first foreign trip since the fall of Bashar al-Assad's regime. This meeting followed remarks by Ahmad al-Shara, the new ruler of Syria, highlighting Saudi Arabia's potential role in shaping Syria's future in an interview with Al Arabiya. Saudi Arabia had supported rebels fighting Assad at the beginning of the Syrian civil war. Recently, Riyadh has taken steps to normalize relations with Assad's government and, in 2023, paved the way for Syria's return to the Arab League to reduce the influence of the Islamic Republic in the country and cut the drug trade, especially the Captagon methamphetamine. Stopping this drug trade was one of the main demands of Arab countries in negotiations with Syria to end the country's political isolation. Opposition groups led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham and directed by Muhammad al-Jolani (Ahmad al-Shara) entered Damascus, the capital of Syria, on Friday, December 7, after capturing the cities of Homs, Deir ez-Zor, and Daraa without facing resistance from government forces, ending over 50 years of Assad family rule in the country.