Syrian president attends first regional bloc summit since his nation’s suspension over crackdown on anti-government protests in 2011.
After greater than a decade of isolation, Bashar al-Assad, the president of war-torn Syria, has been welcomed again into the Arab League.
Al-Assad on Friday attended the regional bloc’s thirty second summit that kicked off in Saudi Arabia’s port metropolis of Jeddah for the primary time since his nation’s suspension following the eruption of battle in Syria in 2011.
Analysts say Syria’s readmission to the 22-member Arab League is a robust sign that al-Assad’s isolation is ending, reflecting an essential shift in how regional actors view the truth of his authorities’s survival, in methods which are at odds with the West.
“I wish to loudly welcome Syria again to its seat amongst its brothers,” Algerian Prime <inister Ayman Benabderrahmane mentioned within the opening speech of the summit.
As leaders walked into the primary corridor, al-Assad exchanged greetings with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, amongst others.
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS), who’s the de facto ruler of the dominion, hugged al-Assad earlier than their official image was taken forward of the beginning of the assembly.
Syria’s Arab League membership was revoked after al-Assad ordered a crackdown on protesters in March 2011 that spiralled the nation right into a battle, which has since killed practically half one million individuals and displaced one other 23 million.
Some Arab states have pushed to finish al-Assad’s isolation and welcomed the choice, whereas others have opposed full normalisation and not using a political resolution to the Syrian battle and want there to be conditions for Syria’s return.
Oil powerhouse Saudi Arabia, as soon as closely influenced by the USA, has taken the diplomatic lead within the Arab world up to now yr, re-establishing ties with Iran, welcoming Syria again to the fold, and mediating within the Sudan battle.
International challenges
The summit was additionally attended in person by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who desires to construct assist for Kyiv’s battle towards Russia.
Zelenskyy’s shock go to is his first to the Center East since Russia’s invasion in February 2022, giving the Ukrainian chief a possibility to deal with leaders of a area who’ve been far much less united of their assist of Kyiv than staunch Western allies.
An Arab League official advised AFP information company Zelenskyy’s invitation got here from Saudi Arabia, not the bloc. There was no instant remark by Saudi Arabia.
A consultant of the Russian embassy may also attend the summit, in line with a Saudi official.
Zelenskyy accused some Arab leaders of ignoring the horrors of Russia’s battle on his nation throughout.
“Sadly, there are some on the planet and right here, amongst you, who flip a blind eye to these cages and unlawful annexations,” he advised summit attendees, urging them to “take an sincere look” on the battle.
Gulf states have tried to stay impartial within the Ukraine battle regardless of Western strain on Gulf oil producers to assist isolate Russia, a fellow OPEC+ member.
Whereas pledging lots of of thousands and thousands of {dollars} of assist to Ukraine and backing UN Safety Council resolutions denouncing Russia’s invasion, it has additionally coordinated intently with Russia on vitality coverage, incomes a rebuke from Washington final yr.
Earlier this yr, a Saudi official advised journalists that Riyadh remained open to contributing to mediation to finish the battle, particularly “on essential minor points that will assist cumulatively ultimately to have a political resolution of the entire problem”.
