Syrian foreign minister seeks Saudi expertise in defense, academia

Syrian Foreign Minister Assad Al-Shibani has been advocating for Saudi involvement in defense and academic sectors, stressing the significance of military collaboration between the two nations. During a meeting at Tishreen Palace in Damascus, Al-Shibani emphasized that Syria requires Saudi expertise more than any other sector. He stressed that Syrian-Jordanian relations are robust, with Jordan's security being an extension of Syria's. The strategic partnership between the two countries surpasses any challenges.

Al-Shibani discussed recent events in Daraa, emphasizing how the incident tested relations with Jordan. He commended Amman's transparency in addressing the matter swiftly and confirmed that investigations were ongoing to implement the results. Syria is actively working on strengthening border trade with Jordan and coordinating efforts to combat smuggling networks, aiming to bolster security and economic cooperation between the two countries.

Concerning the situation in Yemen, Al-Shibani expressed hope for the alleviation of the Yemeni people's suffering and the restoration of stability. He affirmed Syria's commitment to supporting the legitimate government in Yemen against Houthi attacks. He denied any agreement with the legitimate government to deploy Syrian forces in Yemen, clarifying that such a step, if taken, would not be clandestine.