Syria's new FM embarks on first official visit to UAE: State media
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Analysts suggest the UAE remains deeply wary of Syria's new leaders, due in part to its mistrust of political Islam and concerns about growing Turkish influence in the war-torn country.
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A photo shows Syria's newly appointed Foreign Minister, Asaad al-Shaibani arriving in the United Arab Emirates, on January 6, 2024. (X)
Syria's newly appointed Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani arrived in the United Arab Emirates on Monday for his first visit since the new regime forces, led by Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), ousted President Bashar al-Assad last month, according to the official news agency SANA.
"Shaibani, accompanied by Defence Minister Murhaf Abu Qasra and Intelligence Chief Anas Khattab, has arrived in the United Arab Emirates," SANA reported.
Al-Shaibani also shared a photo on X, showing himself stepping off a plane, and expressed his hopes for "building constructive bilateral relations."
نشكر دولة قطر على حسن الاستقبال والضيافة، توجهنا اليوم إلى دولة الإمارات العربية المتحدة الشقيقة، نتطلع لبناء علاقات ثنائية بناءة تصب في مصلحة البلدين pic.twitter.com/EtBJQJxL9q
— أسعد حسن الشيباني (@Asaad_Shaibani) January 6, 2025
The new Syrian officials' visit to the UAE follows trips to Qatar on Sunday and Saudi Arabia last week.
Analysts suggest the UAE remains deeply wary of Syria's new leaders, due in part to its mistrust of political Islam and concerns about growing Turkish influence in the war-torn country. Both Qatar and Turkiye, which supported the Syrian opposition during the country's 13-year war, reopened their embassies in Damascus after Assad fled to Moscow.
UAE presidential adviser Anwar Gargash expressed concern last month, stating that his government found the Islamist connections of Syria's new leadership "quite worrying."
Syria's new leadership urges Qatar to support lifting of US sanctions
During their visit to Qatar, Syria's transitional government ministers urged the United States to lift sanctions on Damascus.
The delegation, which included al-Shaibani, Defense Minister Murhaf Abu Qasra, and Intelligence Chief Anas Khattab, met with senior Qatari officials during the trip.
Qatar's Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani reaffirmed his country's support for Syria's territorial integrity and sovereignty, according to a statement from Qatar's Foreign Ministry.
Al-Shaibani mentioned that US sanctions are hindering Syria's recovery efforts. Speaking to local media, he called the measures "a barrier and an obstacle to the rapid recovery" and renewed the government's demand for their removal.
Discussions with Qatar's Minister of State, Mohammed bin Abdulaziz al-Khulaifi, also highlighted plans for Syria's reconstruction and political transition.
Al-Shaibani stated that the transitional government aims to establish "very good relations with the region," distancing itself from the policies of the Assad regime.
At the end of last month, Qatar echoed calls for the swift lifting of sanctions on Syria. However, the international community remains cautious, opting to monitor how the new leadership manages its power before adjusting economic restrictions.
The war on Syria, which began in 2011 as a result of imperialist ambitions and economic pressures, destabilized the nation and evolved into a conflict exploited by global powers for strategic gain.
With al-Assad's removal, the new government is seen as seeking to rebuild relationships and lay out a roadmap for Syria's future.
Al-Khulaifi noted that Syria's leadership had outlined "a clear roadmap for Syria in the near future and the steps that will be taken by the leadership and political administration in Syria."
Read more: Syria's new leadership asserts strategic alliance with Russia
