RIYADH: Saudi Arabia is set to host a regional meeting on Friday aimed at ending Syria’s isolation amid a flurry of diplomatic activity in the Middle East.
The nine-nation talks in Jeddah will see ministers and top officials from the Gulf Cooperation Council countries, along with Egypt, Iraq, and Jordan, discuss Syria’s suspension from the Arab League.
Many Middle Eastern countries have shunned President Bashar al-Assad’s government since launching a brutal crackdown on pro-democracy protests in 2011.
The talks come after Syria’s foreign minister visited Riyadh on a previously unannounced visit, the first since the start of the civil war.
The talks also follow the landmark deal between Saudi Arabia and Iran to resume diplomatic ties, brokered by China in March.
On Wednesday, an Iranian delegation arrived in Saudi Arabia to clear the way for reopening diplomatic missions after a visit by a Saudi team in the opposite direction.
Shift in diplomatic relations between Iran and Saudi Arabia
The shift in diplomatic relations between Saudi Arabia and Iran has been described as “dizzying,” with both countries vying for regional influence. However, analysts suggest that Saudi Arabia is now attempting to calm tensions to focus on domestic projects to diversify its economy away from oil.
The talks in Jeddah will attempt to overcome Gulf differences over Syria, with Qatar singled out as an outspoken critic of the Assad government.
While the 22-nation Arab League takes decisions by consensus, unanimous agreement is unlikely, according to a Riyadh-based diplomat.
Syrian Foreign Minister Faisal Mekdad may also attend the summit to present the Syrian point of view.
In addition to the talks on Syria, the UAE’s President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al-Nahyan has flown to Cairo for talks with Egyptian leader Abdel Fattah al-Sisi.
The UAE has led efforts to reintegrate Syria into the wider region, with Sheikh Mohamed stating last month that “the time has come” for Damascus to return to the Arab fold.
The talks in Jeddah are seen as part of a wider shift in Middle Eastern diplomacy, with countries seeking to resolve longstanding conflicts and create stability in the region.
