Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan will participate in a high-level meeting on Syria in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on Sunday, diplomatic sources confirmed.

The gathering will continue discussions initiated at a previous meeting in Aqaba, Jordan, as part of international efforts to address the ongoing crisis in Syria.

Fidan’s participation follows his visit to Jordan on Dec. 14, 2024, where he attended a similar meeting on Syria and held talks with Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi.

The Riyadh meeting is expected to focus on fostering stability in Syria. Fidan will emphasize Turkey’s commitment to Syria’s territorial integrity and unity, call for systematic reconstruction efforts, and advocate for the expansion of sanctions exemptions to facilitate humanitarian aid and development.

The meeting will include the foreign ministers of Syria, Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) members—Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, and Oman—alongside foreign ministers from Iraq, Lebanon, Jordan, Egypt, the UK, and Germany.

Deputy foreign ministers from the US and Italy are also expected to attend, along with key international figures, including the European Union’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, the Secretary-General of the Arab League, the Secretary-General of the GCC, and the UN Special Envoy for Syria.

The meeting comes amid significant political changes in Syria. On Jan. 1, Syria's new leadership made its first official foreign visit to Saudi Arabia, marking a new chapter following the ouster of former regime leader Bashar al-Assad on Dec. 8, 2024.

The Riyadh gathering is seen as a critical step in advancing diplomatic efforts to restore stability, rebuild Syria, and address the challenges faced by the war-torn nation. (ILKHA)