Saudi Crown Prince and Syrian President Discuss Bilateral Issues

Riyadh (Agencies): Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman held talks with Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa in the Saudi capital, Riyadh, yesterday, discussing a number of bilateral issues. Syrian state news agency SANA reported that al-Sharaa’s visit to the Kingdom includes the signing of numerous agreements across various sectors. It noted that the visit comes “in the context of the evolving relations between the two countries,” adding that Saudi Arabia was the first destination for President al-Sharaa and Foreign Minister and Expatriates Affairs Minister Asaad al-Shibani after the liberation of Syria, and that the initial lifting of sanctions began from there. Syria has consistently emphasized the importance of relations between the two countries across all political, security, and economic fields. The visit aligns with a critical regional juncture, particularly amid tensions in the Middle East and efforts to bridge differences between Iran and the United States to prevent the outbreak of war. Syrian state channel al-Ikhbariya reported that Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shibani, along with the ministers of defense, finance, and industry, and the head of General Intelligence, are accompanying al-Sharaa on this visit. A few days ago, al-Shibani told al-Sharq News channel that “ongoing discussions are underway to evaluate Syria’s entry into the Mecca Alliance.”