Syrian President Al Shara arrives in Riyadh for second Saudi visit in weeks

Syrian President Ahmad Al Shara journeyed to Riyadh on Wednesday, accompanied by a delegation comprising the foreign, defence, finance and industry ministers, along with the head of the General Intelligence Directorate, according to Sana news agency. The agenda during his high-profile visit includes discussions on various bilateral issues and signing agreements across multiple sectors.

This marks the second trip to Saudi Arabia within a short span of time for President Al Shara. His previous visit was on October 6, where he met Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to discuss bilateral relations and potential collaboration in different fields, as well as recent regional developments.

The latest visit follows Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Al Shibani's remarks last week, stating that Syria views regional security as a priority and is engaged in talks to join the Makkah defence agreement. Speaking at the Manama Dialogue in Bahrain, Al Shibani disclosed that there have been "some negotiations" on integration into the pact, emphasizing Syria's readiness to support any organization that ensures regional security, irrespective of its membership status in the agreement. He also stressed the significance of cooperation on deterrence and defense matters.

Pact integration is a topic of interest, as the agreement signed in August between Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, and Turkey stipulates that an attack on one member country is considered an attack on all. In April, President Al Shara previously visited Saudi Arabia in Jeddah, where they conversed on regional developments, enhancing bilateral relations, economic and investment ties, and "regional connectivity projects".

Since taking office in 2024 following a rebel offensive that removed former President Bashar Al Assad, Saudi Arabia has become a prominent investor in Syria.