Riyadh to reopen embassy in Damascus as Saudi-Syrian relations thaw

Saudi Arabia has officially reopened its embassy in Damascus after nearly 12 years.

The announcement was made by Abdullah Al-Harees, acting Saudi Chargé d'Affaires in Syria, during a ceremony attended by Syrian ministers, senior officials, and members of the diplomatic community.

Acting Chargé d'Affaires of the Saudi Embassy in Syria Abdullah Al-Huraiz stated that the reopening of the embassy in Damascus is a significant moment in the history of relations between the two countries and peoples.

He reaffirmed the embassy's commitment and its staff's dedication to strengthening bilateral relations between the two nations.

The ceremony was attended by several ministers, senior Syrian government officials, members of the diplomatic corps accredited to Damascus, and a gathering of dignitaries and intellectuals.

The reopening of the embassy marks a significant shift in relations between Saudi Arabia and Syria, which had been strained since Bashar al-Assad assumed office in 2000 following the death of his father, Hafez al-Assad.

Diplomatic ties between the two nations were severed in 2012 amid the ongoing Syrian civil war.

The war, now in its 14th year, has resulted in nearly half a million deaths and displaced half of Syria's pre-war population of 23 million.

Efforts to reach a political resolution have remained largely stalled.

Earlier Saudi Arabia announced on May 26, 2024, the appointment of Faisal bin Saud al-Mejfel as its ambassador to Damascus, marking the first such appointment since the severance of relations.

The decision to reopen diplomatic missions came shortly after Syria rejoined the Arab League and regular commercial flights between the two nations resumed.

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has been actively working to foster regional peace, including improving relations with Iran and restoring ties with Syria.

The resumption of Saudi-Iran relations, formalized in March through an agreement in China, is expected to positively impact the Middle East, where both nations have supported rival factions.