Syria’s newly appointed Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani has expressed hopes of beginning a “new, bright page” in relations with Saudi Arabia during his first official visit to the kingdom.
The visit, which began late Wednesday, marks the first foreign trip by representatives of Syria’s interim government following the ousting of former President Bashar al-Assad by rebel forces on December 8.
Al-Shaibani announced his arrival in Riyadh on X, stating, “I have just arrived in the sisterly Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, accompanied by the Minister of Defence Murhaf Abu Qasra and the Head of the General Intelligence Service Anas Khattab. Through this first visit in the history of Free Syria, we aspire to open a new, bright page in Syrian-Saudi relations that befits the long shared history between the two countries.”
Appointed on December 21, al-Shaibani is the first foreign minister under Syria’s new administration. The visit comes at the invitation of Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister. The delegation includes Defense Minister Murhaf Abu Qasra and General Intelligence Chief Anas Khattab. Al-Shaibani has also called for the lifting of Western sanctions on Syria, outlining the new administration’s vision for the country’s recovery in an interview with Al Jazeera.
Ahmed al-Sharaa, Syria’s de facto leader and head of the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) group that led the offensive against al-Assad, also highlighted the potential for Saudi investment in Syria. In a recent interview, he stated that Riyadh “will certainly have a large role in Syria’s future,” describing the situation as a “big investment opportunity for all neighboring countries.”
