Leaders from Jordan, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia visit Damascus to meet Syria’s new leader
Syria’s new leader, Ahmed al-Sharaa, met with top Arab officials from Qatar, Jordan, and Saudi Arabia in Damascus on Monday. This is one of the latest important visits since Bashar al-Assad was removed from power.
Talks Between GCC Countries and Syria
Jordan’s Foreign Minister, Ayman Safadi, had long discussions with Al-Sharaa, according to Türkiye’s state news outlet. Qatar’s Minister of State, Mohammed al-Khulaifi, also arrived in Damascus with a high-ranking team.
The UAE’s Foreign Minister, Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, spoke by phone with Asaad Hassan al-Shibani, the Syrian Transitional Government’s foreign minister, about the latest events in Syria. They also talked about strengthening ties between their countries, as reported by the UAE’s official news agency.
Qatar’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Majed al-Ansari, said that Mohammed al-Khulaifi will meet with Syrian officials to show Qatar’s commitment to supporting the Syrian people. Al-Khulaifi arrived on a Qatar Airways flight, the first direct flight from Doha to Damascus since the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime.
On Sunday, a Saudi delegation met with the leader of Syria’s new administration in Damascus. However, no details about the meeting were shared.
Al-Sharaa previously stated that Saudi Arabia and Syria are working toward a shared vision for cooperation and economic development in Damascus.
Rebuilding Efforts
Qatar has shown interest in helping rebuild Syria. On Monday, after meeting a senior Qatari official in Damascus, Al-Sharaa said Qatar is ready to invest in Syria’s energy sector, ports, and airports. Qatar has a lot of experience in the energy field and is willing to make large investments.
Last week, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) also said it is prepared to help with Syria’s reconstruction efforts when the situation improves. IMF spokesperson Julie Kozack explained that they are watching developments closely but haven’t made any decisions yet. She noted that the last time the IMF had a detailed economic discussion with Syria was in 2009.
Background Information
Syria’s leader of nearly 25 years, Bashar al-Assad, fled to Russia after anti-regime forces took control of Damascus on December 8. This ended the Baath Party’s rule, which had lasted since 1963. The takeover happened quickly, with fighters from Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) capturing major cities in under two weeks.
Published: 24th December 2024
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