A group of regional leaders convened in Saudi Arabia on Saturday to discuss the political fate of Syria and pledged to continue talks aimed at finding a political solution to the ongoing conflict in the war-torn country. However, they did not endorse Syria’s return to the Arab League. The meeting included top diplomats from Arab Gulf countries, Egypt, Jordan, and Iraq, and was held just days after Syria’s foreign minister visited Saudi Arabia for the first time since diplomatic relations were severed in 2012.
In a recent development, Syria and Saudi Arabia announced on Thursday that they were taking steps towards reopening embassies and resuming flights between the two countries, marking a significant development after more than a decade of strained relations. Syria has been isolated by most Arab governments due to the brutal crackdown on protesters by President Bashar Assad during the 2011 uprising, which escalated into a civil war and ultimately led to Syria’s expulsion from the Arab League.
However, in recent years, there has been a shift in the approach of Syria’s neighboring countries towards rapprochement as Assad has consolidated control over most of the country. This trend has gained momentum since the massive earthquake that struck Turkey and Syria on February 6, as well as the Chinese-brokered reestablishment of ties between Saudi Arabia and Iran, which had supported opposing sides in the Syrian conflict.
With Saudi Arabia set to host the next Arab League summit in May, the question of Syria’s membership in the organization is expected to be a topic of discussion. However, some members, particularly Qatar, have voiced opposition to Syria’s return to the Arab League, and there has been no apparent change in Qatar’s stance after the recent meetings in Jeddah.
In a statement issued by the Saudi foreign ministry on Saturday, the ministers emphasized that a political solution is the only viable path to resolve the Syrian crisis, and highlighted the importance of Arab leadership in efforts to end the conflict. They agreed to establish the necessary mechanisms and intensify consultations among Arab countries to ensure the success of these efforts.
The ministers also condemned the recent Israeli police raids on Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem’s Old City and emphasized the centrality and priority of the Palestinian cause. They further condemned illegal Israeli practices that undermine the two-state solution, and called for the establishment of an independent and sovereign Palestinian state with its capital in East Jerusalem, based on pre-1967 borders, as stated in the official statement.
In a separate development, Syrian Foreign Minister Faisal Mikdad arrived in Algeria on Thursday for an official visit aimed at strengthening bilateral relations and coordinating positions between the two countries in the Arab and international arenas, as reported by Syrian state media. Algeria is one of the few Arab countries that did not sever diplomatic relations with Syria during the conflict, indicating a potential shift in regional dynamics.
