RIYADH: Syria’s officials attended a preparatory session ahead of the upcoming Arab League summit in Saudi Arabia, marking the country’s return to the organization after more than a decade of exile.
The meeting, broadcast live on state TV channel Al Ekhbariya, witnessed Saudi finance minister Mohammed al-Jadaan welcoming the Syrian Arab Republic to the League of Arab States.
Expressing his anticipation for collaborative efforts, Jadaan stated, “I… take this opportunity to welcome the Syrian Arab Republic to the League of Arab States,” as the camera captured the presence of the Syrian delegation.
The participation of Syrian officials in an Arab League meeting is the first since November 2011 when Damascus was suspended from the body due to its violent crackdown on protests, which later escalated into a conflict resulting in the deaths of more than 500,000 people and the displacement of millions.
Earlier this month, the pan-Arab body officially readmitted Syria’s government, leading to President Bashar al-Assad’s return to the Arab fold. As a gesture of reconciliation, Saudi King Salman has invited Assad to attend the upcoming summit in Jeddah, marking his first participation since the 2010 meeting in Libya.
Over time, regional capitals have exhibited a growing acceptance of Assad’s regime as he managed to retain power and regain control of lost territories with substantial support from Iran and Russia. The United Arab Emirates had already restored diplomatic ties with Syria in 2018 and has been at the forefront of the recent efforts to reintegrate Damascus.
Diplomatic activities gained momentum following a deadly earthquake that struck Syria and Turkey in February. Additionally, the decision by Saudi Arabia and Iran, a close ally of Damascus, to resume ties in March has further reshaped the regional political landscape.
Syria’s return to Arab fold
Last week, Riyadh confirmed the resumption of work at the respective diplomatic missions of both countries, signaling a significant shift in Saudi Arabia’s stance after severing ties with Assad’s government in 2012 and actively supporting his ouster.
While the frontlines in Syria have relatively calmed, significant portions of the north remain outside government control, and a political solution to the conflict has yet to materialize. Last month, foreign ministers from nine Arab countries convened in Saudi Arabia to discuss the Syria crisis, and on May 1, five regional foreign ministers, including Syria’s representative, met in Jordan.
In response to Syria’s return, Ahmed Aboul Gheit, the Arab League’s secretary-general, highlighted the potential revival of “the principle of Arab solidarity.” However, not all nations in the region have been quick to restore ties with Assad’s government. Qatar recently announced its decision not to normalize relations but emphasized that this stance would not impede Syria’s reintegration into the Arab League.
Despite the positive developments and the end of certain regional disputes, Aboul Gheit acknowledged the ongoing challenges faced by the Arab region. He referred to “a new wave of displacement,” likely alluding to the month-long conflict in Sudan, which has forced nearly 200,000 people to flee the country and displaced hundreds of thousands within its borders. The Sudanese conflict is expected to feature prominently on the summit’s agenda.
A senior Saudi diplomat revealed last week that army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, a key figure in the Sudanese conflict, had been invited to represent Sudan at the summit. However, it remains uncertain who will attend from Sudan. Representatives of Burhan and his adversary, paramilitary leader Mohamed Hamdan Daglo, have been engaged in talks facilitated by Saudi Arabia and the United States in Jeddah for over a week. While they recently signed an agreement committing to uphold humanitarian principles, a comprehensive truce agreement is yet to be reached.
