Wind of normalization in the Middle East: the Saudi embassy returns to Syria

The Saudi Arabian Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that it will reopen its diplomatic mission in Syria.

This move by Saudi Arabia, which severed diplomatic relations with Syria about 10 years ago, came after Syria was readmitted to the Arab League two days ago. Some Arab countries, including the United Arab Emirates, have turned a new leaf in their relations with Damascus by reversing the exclusion of Bashar Assad for years due to his response to protests and the 2011 civil war.

Sources who spoke to Reuters in March said Damascus and Riyadh had agreed to reopen their embassies. In the statement from the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs, there was no information on when the embassy will reopen. The Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that the decision will support security and stability in the region.

On news from the Syrian state news agency, it was claimed that Damascus decided to restart the work of its diplomatic mission in Saudi Arabia. A regional source close to Damascus said communication between the two countries gained momentum after a Chinese-brokered deal to restart relations between Assad’s key ally Iran and Saudi Arabia.

The United States, an ally of Saudi Arabia, has opposed efforts by states in the region to normalize relations with Assad. Some Arab countries also took an anti-normalization stance. (Reuters)