Saudi Arabia and Syria signed a cooperation agreement between their ministries of defense on November 4, 2023. This agreement was signed at a time when the Iran-affiliated Houthi group in Yemen continues its missile and drone attacks on Saudi Arabia.
Details of the Meeting and Agreement
The mentioned agreement was signed during the visit of Ahmad al-Ashra, the President of Syria, to Riyadh and during his meeting with Mohammed bin Salman, the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia. This was their second meeting in Saudi Arabia in less than a month. However, no specific details about the content of this agreement have been released. Reports indicate that Syria is carefully considering providing military assistance to Saudi Arabia in light of the intensification of the kingdom's war against the Houthis in Yemen.
Management of Military Cooperation
A Syrian diplomat stated that any request for military cooperation or exchange of experiences “will only be conducted through official channels and within the framework of bilateral agreements that govern the relations between the two brotherly countries.” In this context, Saudi Arabia is seeking assistance from various countries, from the United States to Europe and the Middle East, for defensive and offensive support in its new war against the Houthis.
In addition to the military cooperation agreement, the two countries signed several other agreements during al-Ashra's visit to Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabia has provided financial assistance to Syria and has played an important role in rebuilding Damascus's relations with global powers following the fall of Bashar al-Assad.
New Development Agreements
In this regard, the Saudi Development Fund signed six agreements with the Syrian Ministry of Finance on Wednesday, which include providing development loans on favorable terms worth over $403 million to support development and service sectors in Syria. This action demonstrates Saudi Arabia's commitment to supporting the Syrian economy and strengthening its infrastructure.
Recent agreements not only help strengthen bilateral relations between Saudi Arabia and Syria but also indicate significant changes in the political and economic status of these two countries regarding military and economic cooperation. These developments are particularly important in the current circumstances, as the Middle East faces multiple challenges.
