Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Pope Leo XIV: I renew my heartfelt appeal to allow the entry of sufficient humanitarian aid [into Gaza] and to put an end to the hostilities
Palestinian Resistance factions: Occupation expanding its genocidal war through what it calls "Gideon's Chariots" will end in failure just like its former plans.
Palestinian Resistance factions: We warn our people from occupation's plans that aim to push it to move to southern Gaza as a prelude to displacing them from the Gaza Strip.
Iraqi oil minister: Such agreements must be signed by the federal government.
Iraqi oil minister: We have reservations regarding the oil agreements signed between US and Kurdistan.
Gharibabadi: Europeans know that triggering the snapback mechanism would sabotage diplomacy, and Iran will respond accordingly
Gharibabadi: The involvement of any third parties in the current indirect negotiations between Iran and the United States requires mutual consent of both sides
Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister for Legal and International Affairs Kazem Gharibabadi: Iran will take appropriate countermeasures should the Europeans move to trigger the snapback mechanism
Israeli media: Spanish Parliament has overwhelmingly voted in favor of legislation banning arms sales to "Israel"
Syrian leadership approved the return of spy Eli Cohen's archive to "Israel": Reuters citing sources

Saudi Arabia, UAE try to lobby EU countries to restore ties with Syria

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Bloomberg
  • 15 Jun 2023 15:16
3 Min Read

Bloomberg reports that Saudi and Emirati officials are lobbying Europeans to lift sanctions on the country.

  • x
  • King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud speaks to the Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman Al-Saud ahead of the opening of Gulf Cooperation Council meeting, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, May 14 2012. (AP)
    King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud speaks to Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud ahead of the opening of the Gulf Cooperation Council meeting, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, May 14, 2012. (AP)

Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) are actively lobbying European countries to restore diplomatic ties with the Syrian government and ease sanctions on the country, according to Bloomberg.

The report says officials have been mobilizing at various levels with their European counterparts in the European Union for several months.

Diplomats of the two Gulf countries have tried to convince EU officials that lifting the sanctions imposed on Damascus is an integral part of any solution to the Syrian crisis, adding that diplomatic moves will not suffice if sanctions remain.  

Bloomberg reported that the delegates argued that an economic recovery would encourage millions of Syrian refugees to return home, thereby elevating the strain on neighboring Lebanon and Jordan, which have been hosting refugees since the start of the war on Syria.

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's current visit to France, where he is scheduled to meet with President Emmanuel Macron, is expected to touch on Middle Eastern and international topics, but it is unclear whether Syria will be a specific focus.

Despite the lobbying efforts by Saudi Arabia and the UAE, key EU nations, such as France and Germany, have already ruled out restoring ties with Syria.

Related News

Syria presented belongings of spy Eli Cohen to 'Israel': Reuters

Armed attack on Russian Hmeimim airbase in Syria, casualties reported

"Let me be clear — the conditions are not in place for the EU to change its policy on Syria," EU foreign-policy chief Josep Borrell claimed at a Syria donors conference in Brussels, Belgium.

Borrell said such a step would necessitate that the Syrian government implement political reforms and adhere to United Nations resolutions.

GCC returns to Syria 

The reported diplomatic mobilization by Saudi Arabia and the UAE in the EU circles comes after the countries' relations with the Syrian Arab Republic improved significantly leading to the resumption of economic and diplomatic activity, as well as Syria's readmission into the Arab League. 

In his speech at the 32nd Arab Summit in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, the Syrian President said, "It is a historic opportunity to rearrange our [Arab] affairs with minimum foreign interference, which requires repositioning ourselves in this emerging world so that we can become active members of its order. This requires investing in the positive atmosphere arising from the reconciliations that preceded the summit."

Indeed, after the conclusion of the summit, Syrian-Saudi relations continued to improve as Saudi Prime Minister MBS met with the Syrian President and discussed bilateral relations between the two countries and developments in the Arab region.

This was followed up by a statement from the Ministerial Council of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), on June 11, which "affirmed its firm positions toward preserving the territorial integrity of the sisterly Syrian Arab Republic, respecting its independence and sovereignty over its lands."

In a statement published on its website, the Ministerial Council expressed its rejection of regional interference in Syria's "internal affairs, and supporting a political solution to the Syrian crisis in accordance with relevant United Nations resolutions."

Furthermore, the council underlined the importance of "continuing and supporting all efforts aimed at helping Syria overcome its crisis, and the need to take practical and effective steps to gradually resolve the Syrian crisis."

  • Syria
  • United Arab Emirates
  • Gulf Cooperation Council
  • GCC
  • Damascus
  • UAE
  • Mohammad Bin Salman
  • EU
  • Bashar al-Assad
  • Saudi Arabia
  • European Union
  • MBS

Most Read

Gaza and the logic of necropolitics: Sovereignty measured by killing

Gaza and the logic of necropolitics: Sovereignty measured by killing

  • Politics
  • 15 May 2025
Two F-35 jets arrive at it's new operational base Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2015, at Hill Air Force Base, in northern Utah. (AP)

F-35 near-misses over Yemen signal new risks for 'Israel': Forbes

  • Politics
  • 14 May 2025
Abu Obaida

Abu Obeida posts shortly after Israeli reports about his assassination

  • Palestine
  • 15 May 2025
YAF say struck 'Israel's' Ben-Gurion Airport with missiles, drones

YAF say struck 'Israel's' Ben Gurion Airport with missiles, drones

  • MENA
  • 18 May 2025

Coverage

All
Gaza prevails against genocide

Read Next

All
Gulf investments quietly boosted Elon Musk and family fortunes
US & Canada

Gulf investments quietly boosted Elon Musk and family fortunes

A 3D render of China's planned 'drone mothership' Credit: X/@XH_Lee23
US & Canada

China unveils drone mothership capable of swarm attacks

Relatives of Venezuelan migrants deported by the US to a Salvadoran prison protested outside the UN building in Caracas on April 9, 2025 (AP)
US & Canada

At least 50 migrants deported to El Salvador prison entered US legally

A city bus goes by the historic city of Santiago, Spain during a major power outage across Spain and Portugal on April, 28, 2025. (AP Photo/Mic Smith)
Europe

Spain hit by major phone network outage weeks after nation blackout

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS