LONDON: The Syrian Arab Republic took over the presidency of the Arab Group at the UN in New York on Tuesday.

The bloc consists of 22 Arab League states, which aim to coordinate votes and unify Arab discourse on political, humanitarian, and development issues on the UN agenda.

The country’s permanent mission to the UN wrote on X: “Syria is proud to assume the Presidency of the Arab Group at the United Nations in New York.”

Ibrahim Olabi, the permanent representative of Syria to the UN, met with Ambassador Maged Abdelfattah Abdelaziz, the permanent observer of the League of Arab States to the UN. During the meeting, they discussed the priorities for the Arab Group’s work in the upcoming weeks and explored ways to enhance coordination among Arab states.

This is the first time Syria has assumed the presidency of the Arab Group since the change of political power in Damascus in 2024. Last September, President Ahmad Al-Sharaa delivered a speech at the UN General Assembly, marking his country’s return to international diplomacy after decades of isolation. He is the first president to do so in nearly 60 years.