Saudi crown prince and Syria’s interim president meet to discuss ties and latest developments
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud and Syria’s interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa met in Riyadh to review bilateral relations and discuss the latest developments in Syria.
The two leaders met on Sunday to discuss ways to enhance Syria’s security and stability, explore opportunities for cooperation across various sectors, and exchange views on regional developments and efforts to address them, according to Xinhua and the Saudi Press Agency.
Saudi support for Syria
The Saudi crown prince congratulated al-Sharaa on his assumption of the presidency of Syria and wished him success in fulfilling the aspirations of the Syrian people.
In response, al-Sharaa expressed his gratitude to the crown prince for his good wishes and for Saudi Arabia’s supportive stance toward Syria and its people.
Al-Sharaa’s official visit
Al-Sharaa, who arrived in Riyadh on Sunday for his first official visit abroad, was received at the airport by the Deputy Governor of Riyadh Region, Prince Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Abdulaziz, and several other officials.
Al-Sharaa’s role in Syria’s transition
Al-Sharaa has led the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham group since 2017 and played a pivotal role in the December 2024 offensive that led to the overthrow of former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and the establishment of a Syrian transitional government. Since Assad’s ouster, al-Sharaa has served as the de facto leader of Syria.
On January 29, Syria’s Military Operations Administration announced al-Sharaa’s appointment as president during the transitional period, granting him the authority to establish an interim legislative council until a permanent constitution is ratified.
