Ministers from 17 Middle Eastern and Western countries gathered in Riyadh for a meeting aimed at rebuilding Syria’s government while applying pressure on the caretaker leadership to represent all religions and ethnic groups. The US eased some restrictions on humanitarian aid, allowing Qatar to send gas to Syria.
Syria’s new leader, Ahmed al-Sharaa, has promised to form a broader government by March. However, Western diplomats are concerned about his ability to gather consensus and address issues such as the composition of courts, military faction integration, and the role of foreign fighters.
Qatar is providing financial support to help subsidise salaries for tens of thousands of Alawites who face job losses. The meeting reviewed US restrictions on humanitarian aid and European plans to ease them in the coming months.
European officials expressed concern about Turkey’s willingness to engage with the Syrian Kurdish-led forces, fearing Ankara may attack them to block Sharaa’s success. The Riyadh summit highlighted the need for a balanced approach to rebuilding Syria, addressing sectarianism and ensuring representation for all groups.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/jan/12/ministers-from-17-countries-meet-in-saudi-talks-on-speeding-aid-to-damascus