BAGHDAD: Syria’s Foreign Minister, Faisal Mekdad, visited Baghdad on Sunday to discuss humanitarian aid, combating the illegal drug trade, and other areas of cooperation with key ally Iraq.
The visit comes as Syria emerges from years of diplomatic isolation, following the recent decision by the Arab League to end Syria’s suspension from the 22-member bloc, thereby reintegrating President Bashar al-Assad’s regime into the regional fold after years of civil war.
Despite the wider Arab boycott, Iraq maintained its alliance with Damascus, maintaining close cooperation throughout Syria’s civil war, particularly in the fight against the Islamic State group.
During a joint press conference with Mekdad, Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein acknowledged Iraq’s role as one of the initiators of Syria’s return to the Arab League.
The two diplomats also discussed the issue of Syrian refugees, many of whom sought shelter in Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, and Turkey following the outbreak of war.
Hussein stated that Iraq has received approximately 250,000 Syrian refugees, with the majority residing in camps in Iraq’s autonomous Kurdistan region. The next step, he noted, would be facilitating the delivery of humanitarian aid into Syria, a country devastated by the war and a February 6 earthquake that also affected Turkey, resulting in tens of thousands of casualties in both nations. The earthquake sparked a flurry of aid efforts and diplomatic initiatives that played a role in Syria’s reintegration into the wider Arab region.
Progression of Bilateral Relations Between Syria and Iraq
Expressing gratitude for Iraq’s solidarity after the earthquake, Mekdad emphasized the progression of bilateral relations and affirmed the commitment to cooperate in combating terrorism and addressing the illegal drug trade, specifically the trade of the stimulant captagon. The Syrian Foreign Minister was also expected to meet with Iraqi Prime Minister Mohamed Shia al-Sudani and President Abdul Latif Rashid during his visit.
The Arab League’s decision on May 7 to readmit Syria marked a significant turning point, following the suspension imposed in 2011 due to President Assad’s repression of pro-democracy protests, which later escalated into a full-scale war. Iraq, however, had abstained from the vote that led to Damascus’ suspension. Despite the defeat of the Islamic State in both countries, militant activity continues along the 600-kilometer (370-mile) porous desert border shared by Iraq and Syria.
In addition to security coordination, Baghdad and Damascus are working together on other pressing issues, including water scarcity. Both countries have experienced a significant reduction in water flows due to dam-building in neighboring nations and the impact of climate change, leading to disruptions in agriculture and threatening livelihoods amid ongoing economic challenges.
