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Saudi Arabian Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman received Syrian President Bashar al-Assad on the occasion of his attendance at the Arab League (AL) Summit in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, Al Arabiya TV reported. According to observers, Syria's attendance at the AL Summit after more than a decade was the focus of the event.
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| Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. Photo: AFP/VNA |
The AL suspended Syria's membership in 2011 after a conflict that lasted more than 10 years. Normalization with Arab countries is a diplomatic victory for Syria. According to Hasni Abidi, an expert on the Arab world and director of the Center for Mediterranean World Studies (Cermam), restoring membership in the AL has paved the way for Syria to reintegrate into the world. Many European countries have begun negotiations with Damascus.
The partnership with the wealthy Gulf states also raises hopes for Syria to resolve its economic problems and rebuild the country. Until now, Syria has had difficulty accessing international finance without a UN-sponsored political solution to the conflict. Meanwhile, US sanctions have been a barrier for foreign investors to invest in reconstruction projects in Syria.
The entire initiative to normalize relations with Damascus originated from Saudi Arabia, which is seeking to assert its role in the region, especially after the successful reconciliation with Iran with the mediation of China. In recent years, the AL has been divided by many issues such as the conflicts in Syria and Libya; the blockade of Qatar by some countries in the region and many other disagreements between member states.
With all 22 members present at this summit, Saudi Arabia has shown its key leadership role in uniting the members of the Arab family, bringing the image of a peaceful region. Reintegrating Syria into the region is also a diplomatic success for Crown Prince bin Salman, a new step to separate Saudi Arabia from the US orbit, at the same time reminding the West that Riyadh is not only an oil-rich country, but also a diplomatic partner that all parties must care about.
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