Saudi Arabia seeks to expand influence through summit on Syria
DAMASCUS, Syria (North Press) – Anna Jacobs, a non-resident fellow at the Gulf States Institute in Washington, highlighted on Sunday that the ministerial meeting in Riyadh on Syria offers Saudi Arabia an opportunity to enhance its influence with the new administration.
In a statement to Agence France-Presse (AFP), Jacobs said, “This summit sends the message that Saudi Arabia wants to take the lead on coordinating the regional effort to support Syria’s recovery.”
She added that Sunday’s meeting provides Riyadh with a chance to strengthen its presence in a country where Turkey and Qatar currently hold more influence.
According to a Saudi official quoted by AFP, the summit will be divided into two sessions. The first will involve Arab officials, while the second will feature broader participation, including representatives from Turkey, France, the European Union, and the United Nations.
The international ministerial meeting on Syria officially began on Sunday in Saudi Arabia. Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shibani arrived in Riyadh on Saturday evening to join the discussions, which include foreign ministers from the Middle East and Europe.
Over the past two weeks, Saudi Arabia has sent food and medical aid to Syria via land and air, signaling its commitment to humanitarian support.
Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states severed diplomatic ties with Syria and closed their embassies in February 2012, in response to the Syrian regime’s violent crackdown on protests. However, in March 2023, Riyadh announced ongoing discussions about resuming consular services between the two countries.
Saudi Arabia subsequently spearheaded diplomatic efforts that led to Syria’s readmission to the Arab League during the Jeddah Summit in May 2023. This marked the return of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to the Arab League after more than a decade.