Saudi Arabia has welcomed its first foreign visitor since the overthrow of Bashar al-Assad as new interim president Ahmed al-Shara arrived in Riyadh on his maiden trip abroad. The trip is a significant shift in Syria’s shifting political alignments, with the country moving away from Iran and toward the Gulf.
Al-Shara’s visit to Saudi Arabia comes after weeks of diplomatic meetings in Damascus, where diplomats from Europe, the US, the Gulf, and Russia have flocked to meet with him. The outcomes of these overtures will shape the new map of Syria and influence regional dynamics.
The choice of Saudi Arabia for al-Shara’s first foreign trip reflects a desire for real partnership between the two countries, according to the interim president. He expressed his appreciation for Saudi support, recalling his childhood in Riyadh before returning to Syria.
Saudi Arabia seeks to reassert its influence in Syria and Lebanon, where it had once vied with Iran but largely lost out. The kingdom has been projecting support for Syria’s new government and calling for the removal of Western sanctions.
Al-Shara’s visit is part of a broader shift in Gulf attitudes toward Syria, driven by Saudi Arabia and the UAE’s desire to curb Iran’s growing influence in the region. The visit marks an important step in establishing Saudi Arabia’s presence in Damascus and reinforces its claims as a leading force in regional politics.
Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/02/02/world/middleeast/syria-saudi-arabia-interim-president-visit.html