Saudi-Syrian agreement to restore diplomatic relations and reopen embassies

Saudi Arabia and Syria agreed on the reopening of embassies and the resumption of flights between the two countries for the first time in more than a decade during talks on Thursday.

The US Associated Press (AP) reported Thursday that the decision followed a visit by the Syrian top diplomat to the Kingdom, the first since Saudi Arabia severed diplomatic relations with Syria in 2012.

The Return of Syria

According to the agency, Syria was widely ignored by Arab governments due to the popular uprising against Syrian President Bashar al-Assad that turned into a civil war that began in 2011. The breakdown of relations reached its peak with the expulsion of Syria from the Arab League. However, in recent years, as al-Assad consolidated his control over much of the country, Syria’s neighbors began to take steps toward rapprochement.

The pace of initiatives has accelerated since the massive earthquake that struck Turkey and Syria on February 6, and the restoration of China-brokered relations between Saudi Arabia and regional rivals Iran, with Iran funding some Syrian militias, the US agency said.

Official Saudi media reported that a delegation headed by Syrian Foreign Minister Faisal Mekdad, at the invitation of Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, arrived in Saudi Arabia on Wednesday for talks on bilateral relations between the two countries. Official Saudi media reported that Saudi Deputy Foreign Minister Waleed Elkhereiji met with Syrian Foreign Minister Faisal Mekdad.

The two countries said in a joint statement that the meeting focused on the necessary steps to reach “a comprehensive political settlement to the Syrian crisis that achieves national reconciliation and contributes to Syria’s return to its Arab forums.”

Saudi Arabia will host the next Arab summit in May, when it is widely expected that the discussion of restoring Syria’s membership will be announced.

The two sides also discussed “the importance of strengthening security, combating terrorism in all its forms, and strengthening cooperation in combating drug smuggling and trafficking,” as well as “the need to support the Syrian state to extend its control over its territory to put an end to the presence of armed militias and external interference in Syrian internal affairs,” as well as facilitating the delivery of humanitarian aid and aid and the return of Syrian refugees.

The visit comes after Syria announced on Wednesday that it will reopen its embassy in Tunis, which broke off relations in 2012. Tunisian President Kais Saied announced earlier this month that he had instructed the country’s foreign ministry to appoint a new ambassador to Syria.