Syria’s President Al-Sharaa meets Saudi Arabia’s MBS in the first foreign trip | Police news

Syria’s leader is in Saudi Arabia to get support for his transitional government.

Syria Ahmed Al-Sharaa has arrived in Saudi Arabia and met Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS) on his first foreign journey since he was appointed president of the transitional government earlier this week.

The Saudi press agency (SPA) showed Al-Sharaa, who met MBS-Saudi Arabia’s de facto leader-after the Syrian president had first been met by Deputy Governor of Riyadh on Sunday.

Al-Sharaa was accompanied by the negotiations in Riyadh by Syria’s Foreign Minister, Asaad Al-Shaibani.

After the meeting, Al-Sharaa said the meeting with MBS had shown that Saudi Arabia had “a true desire to support Syria in building its future”. The Syrian president added that his meetings in Riyadh had included plans for collaboration in energy, technology, education and health.

Al Jazeera’s Osama bin Javaid said that Al-Sharaa chose Riyadh as his first destination, which “ensures that Saudi Arabia knows and realizes that this new Syria puts it under”.

Al-Sharaa led the Syrian opposition to overthrow the regime of long-time President Bashar al-Assad on December 8, after a lightning decline across the country. Since then, the new Syrian administration has been trying to get regional and international legitimacy and to have damaged Western sanctions against Syria.

However, concerns about Al-Sharaa’s previous membership of al-Qaeda have tempered support from some quarters, even when Syria’s new leadership emphasizes regional integration and protection for religious and ethnic minorities.

During a visit to Damascus last week, Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan said his country was engaged in an active dialogue with Europe and the United States to help lift financial sanctions imposed on Syria.

Bin Javaid said that Al-Sharaa’s visit intended to remind Saudi officials of this promise and get all the help of rebuilding Syria’s infrastructure, government and institutions.

In addition, the trip to Riyadh symbolizes a “seismic shift in the country’s adaptation and future connections” away from the overturned President Bashar al-Assad’s allegiance to Iran and Russia.

Last month, Al-Sharaa told Al Arabiya TV that Saudi Arabia “will certainly have a major role in Syria’s future” and points to “a great investment opportunity for all neighboring countries”.

Sunday’s trip comes after Al-Shibani, Syria’s Foreign Minister, also traveled to Riyadh last month.

Meanwhile, Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al Thani Damascus visited Thursday and became the first Arab leader to do so since the al-Assad rack.