Syria’s Assad gets warm welcome at Arab summit after years of isolation
- Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman greeted Syrian President Bashar al-Assad with a handshake and a hug at the Arab League summit in Jeddah
- Assad rubbed shoulders with leaders who had shunned him for years in a major policy shift opposed by the United States and other Western powers
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad was given a warm welcome at an Arab summit on Friday, winning a hug from Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince at a meeting of leaders who had shunned him for years, in a policy shift opposed by the US and other Western powers.
Assad, long ostracised by Arab states as he turned the tide of Syria’s civil war with Russia’s help, will be joined at the summit by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who wants to build support for Kyiv’s battle against Russian invaders.
Gulf states have tried to remain neutral in Ukraine conflict despite Western pressure on Gulf oil producers to help isolate Russia, a fellow OPEC+ member.
Syria’s readmission to the Arab League is a strong signal that Assad’s isolation of more than a decade is ending.
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman shook hands with Assad at the meeting in Jeddah, after 12 years of Syria’s suspension. The crown prince hugged Assad before their official picture was taken ahead of the start of the meeting
Oil powerhouse Saudi Arabia, once heavily influenced by the United States, has taken the diplomatic lead in the Arab world in the past year, re-establishing ties with Iran, welcoming Syria back to the fold, and mediating in the Sudan conflict.
