Saudi Minister of Defense Advocates for Syria’s Stability and Progress During High-Level Talks
Riyadh, The Gulf Observer: In a significant diplomatic development, Saudi Minister of Defense Prince Khalid bin Salman emphasized on Thursday that it is time for Syria to achieve stability and progress, leveraging its resources, especially its people. His remarks came after official talks between Saudi Arabia and the new Syrian Administration’s delegation in Riyadh.
Describing the meeting with the Syrian delegation as “fruitful,” Prince Khalid shared insights from the discussions on his X account. “Met with the New Syrian Administration’s Foreign Minister, Defense Minister, and Intelligence Chief. We discussed developments in Syria and explored ways to support the transitional political process in achieving the Syrian people’s aspirations for security, stability, and unity. Our brothers and sisters in Syria have suffered years of war, destruction, and difficult living conditions,” the minister stated.
The meeting took place at Prince Khalid’s office in Riyadh and included key officials from both sides. The Syrian delegation was headed by Minister of Foreign Affairs Assad Al-Shaibani, accompanied by Minister of Defense Maj. Gen. Marhaf Abu Qasra and Head of the General Intelligence Service Anas Khattab. They engaged in comprehensive discussions regarding Syria’s latest developments, with a focus on supporting the transitional political process aimed at securing the country’s stability, unity, and territorial integrity.
The meeting was attended by several prominent Saudi officials, including Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan, Deputy Minister of Defense Prince Abdulrahman bin Mohammed bin Ayyaf, Head of General Intelligence Khalid Al-Humaidan, Chief of General Staff Gen. Fayyad Al-Ruwaili, and Director General of the Office of the Minister of Defense Hisham bin Abdulaziz bin Saif.
On the Syrian side, Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates for Arab Affairs Mohsen Mahbash and Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs for Humanitarian Affairs Ahmed Dukhan were also present.
In addition, Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan held a separate meeting with his Syrian counterpart, Asaad Al-Shaibani, at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Riyadh, further reinforcing the importance of dialogue between the two nations.
The Syrian official delegation, on its first official foreign visit, arrived in Riyadh on Thursday, marking a new chapter in Saudi-Syrian relations. The discussions are seen as a positive step toward addressing the challenges faced by the Syrian people and ensuring a path to lasting peace and stability.
