In brief
In Riyadh on Wednesday, Syrian President Ahmed al‑Sharaa and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman signed a defence cooperation agreement and secured more than $403 million in Saudi loans to fund energy, housing, health and infrastructure projects. The deal follows Syria’s Foreign Minister’s announcement of possible entry into the Mecca alliance and a joint call for regional de‑escalation amid heightened tensions in Yemen.
In Riyadh on Wednesday, Syrian President Ahmed al‑Sharaa and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman signed a defence cooperation agreement and secured more than $403 million in Saudi loans for reconstruction projects.
The agreements were signed during al‑Sharaa’s second visit to Riyadh in less than a month, after a brief ceremony that ended with both leaders looking at the national flags side by side. The foreign ministries of both countries confirmed that the contracts cover energy, housing, health and infrastructure.
The Syrian Foreign Ministry said that the defence agreement is the “most notable” among the deals. It did not disclose the terms of the contract.
Earlier this week, Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al‑Shaibani said his government was evaluating whether Syria should join a mutual defence pact among Saudi Arabia, Turkiye and Pakistan. He made the comment during the Manama Dialogue, a security conference in Bahrain.
During the Riyadh talks, both leaders also called for regional de‑escalation, noting the impact of military escalation on regional security, the safety of international shipping, the reliability of energy supplies and the stability of the global economy.
The two men urged an "immediate cessation of all actions that threaten the security of maritime navigation" in the Red Sea, the Bab al‑Mandeb strait and the Strait of Hormuz.
Security Context
Saudi Arabia has sought support from the United States and European and Middle Eastern countries to counter the Houthi insurgency in Yemen. The Houthis have attacked Saudi airports and oil facilities as they combat forces aligned with Yemen’s internationally recognised government.
In a statement on X, the Syrian Foreign Ministry added that the leaders discussed the current regional and international situation, especially the effects of conflict escalation on maritime commerce.
Ahmed Qassem, a Syrian political researcher, told Al Jazeera that al‑Sharaa’s second visit in such a short time indicates the magnitude of the security challenges in the region as well as in Syria. He argues that Syria needs a deterrence force to protect its sovereignty and to deter increasing Israeli encroachment on its territory.
Meanwhile, the Saudi Fund for Development agreed to provide $403 million in loans under a six‑year framework, a commitment announced as part of the same agreement package. The funds are earmarked for the energy, housing, health and infrastructure projects highlighted in the ceremony.
