Syria’s new leader, UAE’s president agree on importance of coordination to support Syrians

Syria’s new leader Ahmed al-Sharaa and the president of the United Arab Emirates, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, agreed in a phone call on the importance of continuous coordination to support Syrians, Syria’s ruling general command said on Friday.

Ahmed al-Sharaa, the head of “Hayat Tahrir al-Sham” (HTS), became Syria’s leader after his opposition alliance toppled Bashar al-Assad on December 8, bringing an end to more than 13 years of war and brutal repression. The conflict, which began with anti-government protests in 2011, left over 500,000 people dead and displaced millions.

Since assuming power, al-Sharaa has sought to rebuild Syria’s shattered government and re-establish ties with the international community. In Riyadh, Saudi Arabia hosted an Arab-international meeting on Sunday to discuss Syria’s future and ways to offer support following al-Assad’s ouster. The meeting, chaired by Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan and Syria’s new Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani, brought together top diplomats from the Middle East and Europe. Discussions reportedly focused on sanctions relief and efforts to stabilize the country.

The new government has also been engaging with neighboring states to address shared security and border concerns. Jordan and Syria have agreed to form a joint security committee to combat arms and drug smuggling along their border and prevent the resurgence of ISIS, Jordan’s foreign minister said last week. Lebanon’s caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati, during a landmark visit to Damascus, announced plans to secure land and sea borders with Syria and address smuggling issues. Iraq, too, is keen to re-establish its diplomatic presence in Damascus, as confirmed by Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein in talks with his Syrian counterpart.

Internationally, Syria has seen a cautious thaw in relations. Italy’s Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani met with al-Sharaa in Damascus, while France’s Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot visited on behalf of the European Union, expressing hopes for a “sovereign, stable, and peaceful” Syria.

last week, UAE Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan hosted his Syrian counterpart Asaad al-Shaibani for talks on enhancing bilateral relations, marking the first official Syrian visit to the Gulf nation since al-Assad’s ouster.

Domestically, al-Sharaa has focused on building a more inclusive government. He has met with Christian clergymen to address minority rights and held talks with delegates from the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF). Syria’s new leadership has also received the attention of the International Criminal Court’s chief prosecutor, Karim Khan, highlighting ongoing concerns about accountability for past atrocities.

The new government has promised to restore stability and rebuild relations following al-Assad’s ouster, while addressing domestic and international challenges.