- Saudi Arabian and Syrian officials agreed to restore diplomatic relations between the two countries
- The two sides also agreed to restore consular services and flights
- The situation comes as Syria has long been isolated among Arab nations
Officials from Saudi Arabia and Syria have agreed to restore diplomatic relations between the two regions, including consular services and flights.
The foreign ministers of both regions on Wednesday welcomed an easing of tensions as they took steps to resume consular services and flights. The two sides have also agreed to cooperate in fighting against drug trafficking and facilitate Syria's return to the Arab fold.
Saudi Arabia and Syria Agree To Restore Diplomatic Relations
Syrian Foreign Minister Faisal Mekdad landed in Jeddah on Wednesday, marking the first visit by a senior Syrian diplomat to the kingdom in the last decade. It is considered a major sign that the region's isolation is almost at an end.
In 2011, during Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad's crackdown on peaceful protests, Saudi Arabia decided to cut ties with Damascus. It then supported rebel groups that battled in hopes of overthrowing Assad from office. The situation also prompted the Arab League to suspend Syria from its ranks, as per Reuters.
With the agreement to restore diplomatic relations between Saudi Arabia and Syria, the situation has become the most significant development among Arab states that seek to normalize ties with Assad. The deal also comes a few weeks after Mekdad personally met with top diplomats of Egypt and Jordan for the first time in over a decade.
Assad, supported by Iran and Russia and considered his main allies, regained control of most of his nation. On the other hand, Saudi Arabia said that isolating Syria was not working as intended.
Saudi Arabian and Syrian officials released a joint statement at the end of the Wednesday discussions where they both agreed to assert the Syrian state's control over all of its territories and end the "presence of armed militias in the regions.
Qatar Maintains Its Stance on Syria
The developments have picked up since the deadly Feb. 6 earthquakes that struck Turkey and Syria, as well as the re-establishment of relations between Saudi Arabia and Iran, which was brokered by China, according to Aljazeera.
Mekdad's visit to Saudi Arabia came after Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud invited him to the country. The kingdom is set to host the next Arab League Summit, scheduled in May, where member nations will most likely discuss Syria's membership.
However, some members of the league, particularly Qatar, continue to oppose Damascus' return to the league. On Thursday, Qatar's prime minister said that talks of Syria's return were only speculation because the reasons that led to the nation's expulsion still linger.
During a televised interview, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdurahman Al Thani said that the original reason for Syria being suspended from the Arab League still stands. He noted that Qatar maintains its position on the normalization with Syria, said Alarabiya News.