RIYADH: Saudi defense minister Prince Khalid bin Salman held a high-level meeting on Thursday in Riyadh with senior officials from Syria’s new administration, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
The discussions focused on advancing Syria’s transitional political process to meet the aspirations of the Syrian people while ensuring the nation’s security, stability, and territorial integrity, SPA added.
The Syrian delegation was led by foreign minister Asaad bin Hassan Al-Shaibani, accompanied by defense minister Major General Marhaf Abu Qasra and Chief of the General Intelligence Service Anas Khattab.
The meeting also included prominent Saudi officials, among them Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah, Minister of Foreign Affairs; Prince Abdulrahman bin Mohammed, Deputy Minister of Defense and Chief of General Intelligence Khalid bin Ali Al-Humaidan;
The high-level Syrian delegation arrived in Saudi Arabia Wednesday night.
The delegation was received by Saudi Deputy FM Waleed Elkhereiji at Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport.
Al-Shibani, said on X on Monday that he had accepted an invitation from his Saudi counterpart Prince Faisal bin Farhan to visit the Kingdom, in what would be his first foreign trip since the ouster of former president Bashar Assad on Dec. 8.
It follows comments made by Syria’s new leader, Ahmed Al-Sharaa, who said Saudi Arabia had a major role to play in his country’s future during an interview with Al Arabiya, which aired on Sunday.
“Saudi Arabia has a major role in Syria’s future, and I take pride in everything it has done for us,” he said, adding that he spent his early childhood in Riyadh and hoped to visit the city again.
Al-Sharaa also praised recent Saudi statements as “very positive” and commended Riyadh’s efforts toward stabilizing Syria.
