Syria’s Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani and his Saudi counterpart, Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah Al Saud, visited the Umayyad Mosque in Damascus. This was a symbolic moment, illustrating the deep connection of Syria to its Islamic past and also the new present that is being formed.
Saudi Arabia is the land of the Islamic holy sites, and it has historically been a leader in the Islamic world. However, other Arab states contain important cities from the Islamic past, including Baghdad in Iraq, Damascus in Syria, and Cairo in Egypt.
Syria recently changed from being an ally of Iran and Hezbollah to being back in the Sunni Arab fold in the region, and it is now close with Turkey, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia. While these countries may be working together to help Syria, they also all want influence.
As such, the visit of the Saudi envoy was important. It also came a day before he was supposed to travel to the West Bank with other foreign ministers and envoys of Arab states. Israel reportedly prevented that visit.
Saudi Arabia is focused on Syria. It was Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman who got US President Donald Trump to meet new Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa in Damascus. This was key to lifting US sanctions. The new US envoy, Tom Barrack, was in Damascus recently to raise the American flag at the US ambassador’s residence. This was symbolic. A new era is emerging – a new dawn.
Syria’s foreign minister said that Syria and Saudi Arabia are entering a strong phase of investment and economic cooperation.
“Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan said on Saturday that the Kingdom will offer with Qatar joint financial support to state employees in Syria,” reports said at Arab News. “His statements came during a joint press conference with his Syrian counterpart Asaad al-Shaibani in Damascus, who welcomed the foreign minister and his delegation on his arrival in the Syrian capital.”
“The Kingdom will provide, with Qatar, joint financial support to state employees in Syria,” Prince Faisal said. The countries will now hold talks to “bolster aspects of cooperation in various fields.”
Arab approach to Syria vs. Gaza
The Saudi Press Agency added that the countries “also expressed a strong desire to work in coordination with the international community and development partners to ensure sustainable, effective support through a comprehensive and unified vision.”
There is a major contrast now between the Arab states moving to invest in Syria and the continued fighting in Gaza. Gaza is in ruins while Syria’s ruins are now going to receive substantial funds for reconstruction. Syria is getting a head start on the future. Meanwhile, Israel may be more isolated in the region as countries flock to do business in Damascus.