Syria’s Foreign Minister has told Saudi officials that the new leadership in Damascus wants to establish a government involving all sectors of Syrian society following the overthrow of Bashar Al-Assad last month.
Minister Asaad Hassan Al-Shibani was making the first foreign trip by a member of Syria’s new administration as Western and regional powers look for signs on whether he will impose strict Islamic rule or show inclusivity in governance.
Al-Shibani and Syria’s Defense Minister met with Saudi Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman in Riyadh on Thursday.
“Through our visit, we conveyed our national vision of establishing a government based on partnership and efficiency that includes all Syrian components, and working to launch an economic development plan that paves the way for investment, establishes strategic partnerships and improve living and service conditions. ”Al-Shibani said in a post on X.
Since overthrowing Assad on December 8, rebels led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) have sought to assure Arab countries and the international community that they will govern on behalf of all Syrians and will not export the revolution.
HTS was the Syrian affiliate of Al-Qaeda until it severed ties in 2016. Saudi Arabia backed rebels who fought against Assad at the start of the Syrian civil war.
More recently, Riyadh had embarked on a path of normalizing ties with the Assad government, paving the way for Syria to return to the Arab League in 2023, in an effort to reduce Iranian influence in the country and stem the flow of drugs, including methamphetamine Captagon.
A Saudi source close to the government said Reuters that the kingdom was committed to safeguarding peace in Syria and that fostering stability was a top priority.
“At this critical time, our focus is on providing essential humanitarian aid to the people of Syria and we are exploring opportunities to expand assistance in collaboration with regional partners,” the source added.
