Syria's newly appointed Foreign Minister, Asaad Hassan al-Shibani, arrived in Riyadh on January 1, 2025, marking his first official overseas visit since the ousting of President Bashar al-Assad on December 8, 2024.

Accompanied by Defence Minister Murhaf Abu Qasra and General Intelligence Chief Anas Khattab, al-Shibani was received by Saudi Arabia's Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs, Waleed bin Abdulkarim El Khereiji, at Riyadh's international airport.

Expressing optimism about the visit, al-Shibani stated, "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."

This diplomatic engagement underscores the shifting dynamics in the Middle East following al-Assad's removal. Saudi Arabia had severed ties with Syria in 2012 amid the civil war but began steps toward normalization in recent years. In 2023, the Arab League readmitted Syria after more than a decade of suspension.

The Syrian delegation's visit to Saudi Arabia signals a potential realignment of regional alliances and a move towards rebuilding diplomatic and economic relationships. Both nations appear poised to explore avenues for cooperation, aiming to stabilize and reconstruct Syria after years of conflict.

Analysts view this visit as a significant step in Syria's reintegration into the Arab world and a testament to Saudi Arabia's role in mediating regional conflicts. The outcomes of these discussions may have far-reaching implications for the geopolitical landscape of the Middle East. (ILKHA)