The relationship between Syria and Saudi Arabia has been strained for many years due to various geopolitical factors, including Syria’s close ties with Iran and Saudi support for militant groups which created havoc in the country. The two countries have been on opposite sides of the CIA-backed regime-change war, with Saudi Arabia supporting the opposition groups and Syria’s President Bashar al-Assad receiving support from Iran and Russia.
To achieve reconciliation, both countries engaged in diplomatic efforts since 2018 to address their mutual concerns and build trust. This evolved into direct talks between their leaders, particularly thanks to Russia which facilitated dialogue and confidence-building measures.
On Wednesday, Syria’s Foreign Minister Dr. Faisal Mekdad paid a visit to Saudi Arabia and met with his Saudi counterpart, the first of its sort since the eruption of the war a decade ago.
In a joint statement issued following a meeting between the two top diplomats have called for an end to foreign military presence on Syrian oil and foreign interventions in the Arab country, as the two countries resume diplomatic ties after more than a decade.
In this video, Kevork Almassian explains the surprising rapprochement between Saudi Arabia and Syria after a decade of hostility.
Kevork Almassian is an award-winning political commentator from Syria. He is the founder of Syriana Analysis and is known for his contribution to the literature on the Syrian war.