Saudi Arabia–Syria relations

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Saudi Arabia-Syria relations
Map indicating locations of Saudi Arabia and Syria

Saudi Arabia
Syria

Saudi Arabia–Syria relations refer to

Syrian Arab Republic. Diplomatic ties between these two countries of the Middle East have long been strained by the major events in the region. Saudi Arabia has an embassy in Damascus, and Syria has an embassy in Riyadh. Both countries are members of the Arab League
and share close cultural ties.

Factors affecting relations

Sonoko Sunayama, a Middle East expert, argues that although economic concerns and balance of power are important, concerns about identity and ideology play the most significant role in the two countries' relations.[1] Ian Black of The Guardian, on the other hand, states that Saudi foreign policy in general mostly focuses on business involving financial incentives and low-profile initiatives, which continued towards Syria until King Abdullah's high-profile condemnation of the Syrian government in 2011.[2]

Both countries share

Islamic identities.[1] However, a significant element of their identity and government, namely secular versus conservative pattern, is completely different in that Syria has a secular government and life-style, while Saudi Arabia has a conservative government and world view.[2]

History of relations

The relations between two countries have been turbulent since their establishment as modern states.[3]

1940s through 1960s

Syrian Foreign Minister Jamil Mardam Bey with Saudi Foreign Minister Prince (later king) Faisal (1940s)

A Syrian mission was opened in Saudi Arabia in 1941, when Syria was still under the control of the

Al Fayyum, Egypt.[4] Both Saudi Arabia and Syria were founding members of the Arab League which was established in March 1945.[6]

The signing of the Arab Defense Pact between Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Syria and Jordan in Cairo, 1957

Saudi Arabia supported the coup in Syria by

Baghdad Pact.[8] By 1958 this deterioration in the relationship had led to King Saud offering a bribe of £1.9 million to Abdel Hamid al-Sarraj, the head of Syrian intelligence at the time and later vice president of the United Arab Republic, to encourage the assassination of Nasser.[9]

After the Ba'ath Party came to power in Syria in 1963, Syria's diplomatic relations with Saudi Arabia again became tense.[3] A left-wing faction of the Ba'ath Party, called the Neo-Ba'ath, led by Salah Jadid took over the government on 23 February 1966,[10] and declared war against monarchist nations, including Saudi Arabia.[10] On 3 May 1966, King Faisal cancelled all trade agreements with Syria.[10]

1970s and 1980s

Syrian Foreign Minister Khaddam with Saudi Arabian Foreign Minister Prince Saud, Ronald Reagan and George Shultz in 1982

At the end of November 1970, Syria's Neo-Ba'ath leaders were toppled and removed, and Hafez Assad became ruler of Syria.[10] Diplomatic negotiations between the two countries were opened and renewed.[10] With the death of Nasser in 1970 relations improved further.[3]

Three months before the

King Khalid, successor of King Faisal, stated in 1975 that Saudi Arabia supported the Syrian role in the Lebanese civil war.[15] Hafez Assad participated in the Riyadh summit held in 1976.[16]

Syria's alliance with the

Taif agreement that reestablished Lebanon's political system and ended the civil war in Lebanon.[18]

1990s

The relations between Saudi Arabia and Syria were positive in the 1990s.

invasion of Kuwait by the Iraqi president Saddam Hussein in August 1990, Syria took part in the US-led international coalition that was established to defend Saudi Arabia and liberate Kuwait.[20]

2000s

Four months after

Bashar Assad succeeded his father as Syrian president, he visited Saudi Arabia in October 2000 and met King Fahd.[21] It was his second state visit, after Egypt.[21]

The

Israel-Lebanon war in 2006 further damaged relations since Syria overtly supported Hezbollah, which had been blamed for starting the war.[23]

Relations between Saudi Arabia and Syria began to become strained in August 2008 when Saudi Arabian ambassador was called back to Riyadh and then withdrawn in protest over Syrian forces' crackdown on anti-government demonstrators.[24][25] In addition, King Abdullah boycotted the Arab League's summit held in Damascus in 2008.[26]

In a start of rapprochement between the two countries, Saudi Arabia appointed an ambassador to Syria, Abdullah Al Eifan, on 25 August 2009.[22] Bashar Assad visited Riyadh in September 2009,[27] and in October, King Abdullah visited Assad in Damascus.[26] Syria appointed a new ambassador, Mahdi Dakhlallah, to Saudi Arabia the same month,[28] restoring diplomatic relations.[24] By January 2010, Assad had visited Saudi Arabia three times.[29]

2010s and Syrian Civil War

Main article:
Saudi Arabian involvement in the Syrian Civil War

The

Syrian Civil War, which began in 2011, damaged relations between the two countries,[19] due to Saudi Arabia sending weapons to the opposition forces, while Iran sent arms to the Syrian government and allied forces.[30] Saudi King Abdullah was the first Arab leader to condemn the Assad government in August 2011 "due to its method to deal with the anti-government" demonstrations."[31][32]

As a result of these events, Saudi Arabia withdrew its delegation from the Arab League's peacekeeping mission in Syria on 22 January 2012[33] and closed its embassy in Damascus in February expelling the Syrian ambassador.[34][35]

Relations between both countries deteriorated further following the start of the Syrian Civil War and Saudi Arabia's numerous calls for Assad to be ousted from power. Since the summer of 2013, Saudi Arabia has emerged as the main group to finance and arm the rebels further distancing itself from the Syrian government.[36]

In 2013 Najdat Anzour, a famous Syrian director, produced a film, King of the Sands, which presents very negative views about House of Saud and the founder of Saudi Arabia, King Abdulaziz.[37] Although Saudi authorities demanded the ban of the movie, it was released in London on 11 September 2013.[37] Anzour stated that the date was a reference to the Saudis' support for terrorism.[37] The movie that was also shown at the Damascus Opera House in December 2013 further worsened the ties between two countries.[37]

In August 2017, the Saudi foreign minister, Adel Jubeir, informed the Syrian opposition at a summit in Riyadh that Saudi Arabia was disengaging with them.[38]

In March 2018,

Mohammad bin Salman, the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, said in an interview that "Bashar Assad is staying, but I believe that Bashar's interests is not to let the Iranians do whatever they want to do." This was interpreted as a break from the previous Saudi insistence that Assad leave office. However, he also stated his opposition to withdrawal of U.S. Special Operations forces from eastern Syria, which is under the control of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) rather than the Assad government.[39] A few weeks later, Jubair indicated the country was open towards deploying its own troops in eastern Syria.[40]

Saudi Arabia has provided support for the SDF, and has met in May 2018 with SDF officials to expand military ties.[41][42] On 26 August 2018, Lebanese MP Nawwaf Moussawi claimed that Assad rejected an offer by Prince Mohammad of Saudi Arabia to provide reconstruction aid in exchange for Syria cutting its ties with Iran and Hezbollah.[43]

On 29 August 2018, Jubeir stated at a joint press conference with Russian foreign minister Sergey Lavrov that Saudi Arabia would work with Russia in bringing about a political solution to the Syrian Civil War.[44] His remarks were welcomed by Syrian foreign minister Walid Muallem, who praised "the new language used to determine Saudi Arabia’s position".[45] In November 2018, it was reported that Saudi Arabia and Syria were negotiating a political reconciliation, with the United Arab Emirates as an intermediary. The talks included potential future cooperation against the Muslim Brotherhood in the region.[46]

In January 2019, the Saudi foreign ministry denied a report that it would be immediately reopening its embassy in Damascus, following decisions by the UAE and Bahrain to reopen respective embassies there.[47] In February 2019, it was reported that Russia was launching a focused lobbying effort on Saudi Arabia and three other Arab countries to support the readmission of Syria to the Arab League, and that Saudi Arabia was seeking assurances that Russia would reduce Iranian political influence in Syria as a prerequisite for doing so.[48]

Since February 2019, Syrian state media ceased criticism of Saudi Arabia, focusing instead on Qatar and Turkey as threats, while Saudi foreign minister Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud avoided criticising Syria in his speeches since his appointment in October 2019.[49]

2020s

In May 2021, the Syrian

World Tourism Organization.[50] In the same month Saudi intelligence chief Khalid bin Ali Al Humaidan visited Damascus and met with his Syrian counterpart Ali Mamlouk, the first such meeting since the outbreak of the civil war.[51] They later met a second time in November of that year in Cairo during the Arab Intelligence Forum.[52] In June 2021, an Al Jazeera report quoted Syrian opposition figures as stating that senior Saudi officials, including Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman, were "keen to reengage with Assad" and had started rapprochement talks.[53]

In December 2021, the Saudi Ambassador to the United Nations urged the UN not to believe Syrian claims that the war was over and condemned the Syrian government's association with Hezbollah and Shia militias. Subsequently, Syrian Deputy Foreign Minister Bashar Jaafari named Saudi Arabia, alongside Qatar, as a country obstructing a Syrian return to the Arab League.[54] In September 2022, Daily Sabah reported Saudi Arabia had set conditions for the return of Syria to the Arab League, including distancing itself from Iran and Hezbollah.[55]

In January 2023, Syria resumed imports from Saudi Arabia.

earthquake on 6 February.[57] On 23 March 2023, Saudi Arabia and Syria began discussing restoration of diplomatic relations.[58]

Normalisation of relations

On 13 April 2023, Syrian Foreign Minister Faisal Mekdad arrived in Jeddah to meet Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan.[59] After frayed relations during the Syrian civil war, both nations now seek "a political solution to the Syrian crisis that preserves the unity, security and stability of Syria,” according to the Saudi foreign ministry.[59] This was the first visit to Saudi Arabia by a Syrian foreign minister since 2011. On 18 April, Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan met President Bashar Assad in Damascus, to be the first Saudi official to visit the country since the emergence of the civil war in 2011.[60]

On 9 May 2023, Saudi Arabia decided to resume work of its diplomatic mission in Syria, which had been suspended since November 2011.[61] On the same day, Syria has decided to resume the work of its diplomatic mission in Saudi Arabia.[62] On 10 May 2023, Syrian state media reported that Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz had invited Syrian President Bashar Assad to the 2023 Arab League summit in Jeddah on 19 May.[63] On the sidelines of the summit President Bashar Assad met with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, and they discussed improving bilateral relations and developments in the Arab arena.[64]

As of March 2024, the Saudi Embassy in Damascus was not yet opened, after previously announcing intention to reopen in mid-February.[65][66]

Economic ties

One of the early economic relations between Saudi Arabia and Syria was in 1950 when a trade agreement was signed and Saudi Arabia provided Syria with financial support.[4] It followed other trade agreements, but all of them were cancelled by King Faisal on 3 May 1966 due to hostile attitude of the Neo-Ba'ath government in Syria towards Saudi Arabia.[10] On 4 April 1972, the two countries signed another trade and economic agreement.[67][68] It allowed free imports and exports of local products between two countries without customs fees for agricultural products, livestock and natural resources.[67] Following the Syrian support for the coalition in the war against the invasion of Kuwait, Syria was provided with nearly $2.2-2.6 billion in aid by Kuwait and Saudi Arabia.[69] In February 1991, a joint committee was formed by Saudi Arabia and Syria, and it fostered economic cooperation between the countries.[70]

In 1997, Syrian exports to Saudi Arabia included mostly livestock, fruits, vegetables, textiles and furniture of which overall cost was over 602 million Riyals.[71] Major items exported by Saudi Arabia to Syria were crude oil and its by products, plant oil and dates, and the 1997 cost of them was nearly 262 million Riyals.[71] In addition, Saudi Arabia had private investments in Syria with a cost of US$700 million in the same year.[71] The number of joint projects was around 50.[71]

Syria and Saudi Arabia signed an accord on 20 February 2001 to set up a

the Greater Arab Free Trade Area (GAFTA).[24]

In parallel to tense diplomatic relations in 2008, both countries began to put taxes on each other's products, but, taxes were ended in 2009.[24] Unofficial figure for the 2007 annual Saudi investment in Syria was $750m and it increased to $1 billion in 2009.[24] On 6 and 7 March 2010 Saudi-Syrian Business Forum and the 11th Session of the Syrian-Saudi Joint Committee were held in Damascus.[74] Five cooperation agreements were signed during the events.[74]

By 2021, Saudi Arabia's share of Syrian exports was 30.9%, making it Syria's main export partner.[75] In 2021, Saudi Arabia became the sixth largest import partner of Syria with a share of almost 2%.[75]

See also

References

  1. ^
    JSTOR 40206107
    .
  2. ^ a b Ian Black (8 August 2011). "Saudi Arabia's rare criticism of Syria reveals their underlying antipathy". The Guardian. Retrieved 12 August 2013.
  3. ^ a b c d Yazan Al Saadi (4 February 2012). "Saudi–Syrian Relations: A Historic Divide". Al Akhbar. Retrieved 11 August 2013.
  4. ^ a b c d e Mohammad Zaid Al Kahtani (December 2004). The Foreign Policy of King Abdulaziz (PhD thesis). University of Leeds.
  5. hdl:10150/318068
    .
  6. ^ "Arab League". Encyclopædia Britannica. 11 September 2023.
  7. ISBN 978-0198290995
    .
  8. ^ "CENTO pact members to dissolve alliance soon". The Gazette. Montreal. Associated Press. 17 March 1979. p. 46. Archived from the original on 17 November 2015. Retrieved 15 March 2014.
  9. ISBN 978-1-134-41304-1
    .
  10. ^
    S2CID 144587765
    .
  11. ^ "The October War and U.S. Policy". The National Security Archive. 7 October 2003. Retrieved 11 August 2013.
  12. ^ Joseph A. Kéchichian (9 April 2010). "King Faisal's lieutenant on world stage". Gulf News. Retrieved 11 August 2013.
  13. ^ "Seminar focuses on King Faisal's efforts to promote world peace". Arab News. 30 May 2002. Retrieved 11 August 2013.
  14. ^ a b Geoffrey Godsell (23 December 1981). "Syrians and Saudis work to reverse setbacks to the Arab cause". The Christian Science Monitor. Retrieved 11 August 2013.
  15. ISBN 978-0-7864-5299-6
    .
  16. TheFreeLibrary
    .
  17. ^ "No news – good news?". Al Ahram Weekly. No. 745. 2–8 June 2005. Archived from the original on 3 November 2013.
  18. ISBN 978-1626370296
    .
  19. ^ a b c Benedetta Berti; Yoel Guzansky (October 2012). "The Syrian Crisis and the Saudi-Iranian Rivalry". Foreign Policy Research Institute. Archived from the original on 20 May 2013. Retrieved 11 August 2013.
  20. ^ "Brief History of Syria". Syrian Friendship Association. Retrieved 11 August 2013.
  21. ^ a b "On President Assad's visit to Saudi Arabia". Arabic News. 9 October 2000. Retrieved 11 August 2013.
  22. ^ a b Alex Sorin (7 July 2009). "Saudi Arabia appoints ambassador to Syria". The Jerusalem Post. AP. Retrieved 3 January 2014.
  23. ^ Phil Sands (10 July 2009). "New chapter for Syria–Saudi relations". The National. Retrieved 11 August 2013.
  24. ^ a b c d e Phil Sands (3 November 2009). "Syria and Saudi end tariff war". The National. Retrieved 13 August 2013.
  25. ^ "Saudi Arabia recalls ambassador to Syria". BBC. 8 August 2011. Retrieved 11 August 2013.
  26. ^ a b Andrew Lee Butters (8 October 2009). "A Rapprochement Between Syria and Saudi Arabia". Time. Archived from the original on 11 October 2009. Retrieved 11 August 2013.
  27. ^ "Syrian president appoints ambassador to Saudi Arabia". BBC Monitoring International Reports. Al-Quds Al-Arabi. 30 September 2009. Retrieved 13 August 2013.
  28. ^ "Dr. Mahdi Dakhlallah is Syria's ambassador to Saudi". SNS. 1 October 2009. Archived from the original on 11 December 2013. Retrieved 13 August 2013.
  29. ^ Bassel Oudat (21–27 January 2010). "Testing the waters". Al Ahram Weekly. No. 982.
  30. ^ Michael Bröning (17 December 2012). "Time to Back the Syrian National Coalition". Foreign Affairs. Retrieved 11 August 2013.
  31. ^ Joshua Jacobs (12 April 2012). "The danger that Saudi Arabia will turn Syria into an Islamist hotbed". The Christian Science Monitor. Washington, D.C. Retrieved 12 August 2013.
  32. ^ Saab, Bilal Y. (31 August 2011). "How Saudi Arabia can contain Iran – and other benefits from Syria's turmoil". The Christian Science Monitor. Washington DC. Retrieved 30 August 2013.
  33. JSTOR 23256658
    .
  34. ^ Yoe Goldman (15 March 2013). "Saudi Arabia, Italy and Holland close embassies in Syria". The Times of Israel. Retrieved 11 August 2013.
  35. ^ "Saudi Arabia shuts embassy in Syria, withdraws staff as deaths mount". Al Arabiya. AFP. 14 March 2012. Retrieved 12 August 2013.
  36. ^ Mariam Karouny (31 May 2013). "Saudi edges Qatar to control Syrian rebel support". Reuters. Retrieved 10 May 2023.
  37. ^ a b c d Albert Aji; Bassem Mroue (12 December 2013). "Film that depicts founder of Saudi monarchy as bloodthirsty womanizer opens in Syria". City News. Damascus. Associated Press. Retrieved 17 November 2020.
  38. ^ Martin Chulov (31 August 2017). "Victory for Assad looks increasingly likely as world loses interest in Syria". The Guardian.
  39. ^ W. J. Hennigan (18 March 2018). "Saudi Crown Prince Says U.S. Troops Should Stay in Syria". Time.
  40. ^ "Saudis consider sending troops to Syria, amid US calls for more Arab action". Rudaw. 18 April 2018.
  41. ^ "Saudi Arabia in talks with YPG to form new force". Daily Sabah. 30 May 2018.
  42. ^ "U.S. Seeks Arab Force and Funding for Syria". The Wall Street Journal. 16 April 2018. Saudi Arabia and the U.A.E. helped pay the stipends for the Syrian fighters the U.S. is supporting
  43. ^ "MBS urged Assad to cut ties with Iran, Hezbollah: Lebanese MP". Tehran Times. 26 August 2018.
  44. ^ "Al-Jubeir: Saudi Arabia to engage with Russia to support Syria political solution". Arab News. 29 August 2018.
  45. ^ "Turkey should understand Idlib belongs to Syria — Muallem". Al Masdar News. 2 September 2018. Archived from the original on 11 October 2018. Retrieved 11 October 2018.
  46. ^ Leith Aboufadel (7 November 2018). "Syria and Saudi Arabia to potentially reconcile after UAE reopens Damascus embassy". Al Masdar News. Archived from the original on 30 April 2019. Retrieved 19 November 2018.
  47. ^ "Saudi foreign ministry denies reopening Damascus embassy: state TV". Reuters. 14 January 2019.
  48. ^ Jamie Dettmer (8 February 2019). "Russia Lobbies for Syria to Rejoin Arab League". Voice of America. London.
  49. ^ "With eye on Turkey, Arabs look to mend ties with Al Assad". Gulf News. 22 December 2019.
  50. ^ "Syria delegation visits Saudi Arabia for first time since 2011". Middle East Monitor. 27 May 2021.
  51. ^ "Meeting between Saudi and Syrian intelligence chiefs hints at detente". The Guardian. 4 May 2021.
  52. ^ "Saudi, Syrian intelligence chiefs meet in Cairo". Al-Monitor. 23 November 2021.
  53. ^ "'Times have changed': Saudi Arabia–Syria in rapprochement talks". Al Jazeera. 8 June 2021.
  54. ^ "Official accuses Qatar, Saudi of obstructing Syria's return to Arab League". Middle East Monitor. 23 December 2021.
  55. ^ "Syria chooses to remain out of Arab League amid mixed reactions". Daily Sabah. 10 September 2022. Retrieved 20 January 2023.
  56. ^ "Syria to resume imports from Saudi Arabia". Xinhua. 16 January 2023. Retrieved 20 January 2023.
  57. ^ "Saudi Arabia: Talks underway on Syria's return to Arab League". Middle East Monitor. 8 March 2023. Retrieved 10 March 2023.
  58. ^ "Saudi Arabia, Syria discuss restoring diplomatic relations". ABC News. 23 March 2023. Retrieved 23 March 2023.
  59. ^ a b "Syrian FM makes first visit to Saudi Arabia since 2011". Al Jazeera. 12 April 2023. Retrieved 13 April 2023.
  60. ^ "Saudi foreign minister meets Syria's Assad in Damascus". Al Jazeera. 18 April 2023.
  61. ^ "Saudi Arabia says work at diplomatic mission in Syria to resume". Arab News. 9 May 2023.
  62. ^ "Saudi Arabia, Syria agree to restore diplomatic ties". Digital Journal. 9 May 2023. Retrieved 10 May 2023.
  63. ^ "Saudi King invites Syria's Assad to attend Arab League summit – Syrian state media". Reuters. 10 May 2023. Retrieved 13 May 2023.
  64. ^ "Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince meets Syria's al-Assad in Jeddah". Al Arabiya. 19 May 2023. Retrieved 23 May 2023.
  65. ^ National, The (22 January 2024). "Saudi Arabia to resume embassy activities in Damascus, Syrian source says". The National.
  66. ^ "فبراير المقبل.. يُتوقع اعادة افتتاح السفارة السعودية في سوريا بعد انقطاع 13 عاماً". sabq.org (in Arabic). 23 January 2024.
  67. ^ a b "On President Assad's today visit to Saudi Arabia". Arabic News. 17 October 2000. Retrieved 11 August 2013.
  68. ^ "International Agreements". SAGIA. Archived from the original on 27 January 2014. Retrieved 27 January 2014.
  69. ^ Steven Plaut (September 1999). "The Collapsing Syrian Economy". The Middle East Quarterly. VI (3).
  70. ^ "Syrian Saudi agreement". Ain al-Yaqeen. 24 June 1998.
  71. ^ a b c d "Syrian–Saudi relations". Arabic News. 25 September 2000. Retrieved 11 August 2013.
  72. ^ "Syria, Saudi Arabia sign free trade accord". Al Bawaba. 21 February 2001. Retrieved 12 August 2013.
  73. ^
    ISBN 978-92-1-128250-4
    .
  74. ^ a b "Syrian–Saudi Joint Committee and Business Forum concludes with signing of 5 agreements". SEBC. SANA. 9 March 2010. Retrieved 3 January 2014.
  75. ^ a b "Foreign trade partners of Syria". The Observatory of Economic Complexity. Retrieved 19 July 2022.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Saudi_Arabia–Syria_relations&oldid=1214641610"