Saudi Arabia has announced its commitment to supporting Syria’s new government, with Interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa meeting with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman during his first international trip. Al-Sharaa stated that Saudi Arabia is committed to helping Syria build its future. The move comes as a sign of the Syrian government’s interest in aligning itself more closely with the Gulf and away from Iran.
In December, al-Sharaa led Hayat Tahrir Al-Sham, the militant group that toppled President Bashar al-Assad. Following this, he was appointed acting president for a transitional period. During his trip to Saudi Arabia, al-Sharaa met with foreign minister Asaad al-Shaibani and discussed lifting international sanctions on Syria.
The Saudi government’s support is seen as an attempt to counterbalance Iran’s significant investment in the region, estimated at $30-50 billion. Saudi Arabia has historically provided funding to insurgent groups opposing Assad, but now appears to be shifting its focus towards supporting a stable Syrian government.
Source: https://www.dw.com/en/saudi-arabia-wants-to-support-syria-says-al-sharaa/a-71485678