IRIA News

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Foreign ministers and top diplomats from Western and Middle Eastern nations convened in Riyadh, on January 12, 2025, to hold talks on Syria, marking the first significant meeting involving high-level officials since Syria’s Bashar Al Assad was ousted from power last month.

The summit, led by Saudi Arabia, aimed to outline the international community’s next steps in supporting Syria’s new interim government and addressing the country’s recovery.

German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock and British Foreign Secretary David Lammy joined representatives from Saudi Arabia, Egypt, the UAE, Qatar, Bahrain, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Turkey, the European Union, and the United States for the discussions.

The meeting follows a lightning rebel offensive on December 8 that toppled Assad’s regime. The Islamist rebel group Hayat Tahrir Al-Sham (HTS), which led the offensive, installed a caretaker government, naming Asad Hassan Al Shibani as foreign minister.

Agenda for Syria’s Transition

In a statement before the summit, the UK Foreign Office emphasized the importance of accountability in the ongoing situation, saying, “Discussions in Riyadh will be Arab-led and focus on the next steps the international community can take to support the interim Syrian authorities, including mechanisms to hold the Assad regime to account for the war crimes they perpetrated against the Syrian people.”

The meeting also builds on a recent conference in Rome and a gathering in Jordan last month, where regional powers expressed concerns over Syria’s Islamist-led new government and outlined criteria for international recognition.

Key topics on Sunday’s agenda included easing sanctions, securing humanitarian aid, combating extremism, and fostering an inclusive transition to a representative government.

Sanctions and humanitarian aid

The newly installed Syrian administration has urged the international community to lift sanctions to enable much-needed aid and economic recovery. The United States recently granted a six-month sanctions exemption to facilitate humanitarian transactions. Similarly, the EU is considering easing restrictions, conditional on Syria’s commitment to forming a government with minority protections.

On Friday, European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas indicated that the EU might consider lifting sanctions if Syria’s interim government demonstrates a commitment to forming an inclusive administration that safeguards minority rights.

Speaking in Riyadh, German Foreign Minister Baerbock highlighted the need for a balanced approach, “Sanctions against Assad’s henchmen who committed serious crimes during the civil war must remain in place. Syrians now need a quick dividend from the transition of power.”

Baerbock announced an additional 50 million euros in German aid for food, emergency shelter, and medical care, emphasizing the dire need for international support as the United Nations estimates that 7 out of 10 Syrians require assistance.

Saudi Arabia, which severed ties with Assad’s regime in 2012, has positioned itself as a key regional player in Syria’s reconstruction and recovery. Over the past month, the Kingdom has sent substantial humanitarian aid and is now deliberating long-term strategies to stabilize the war-torn nation.

Inclusive governance

Sunday’s meeting reiterated the calls for a Syrian-led transition to form an inclusive, non-sectarian, and representative government. Diplomats stressed the importance of human rights and the fight against terrorism and extremism, urging all factions to cease hostilities.

Over 13 years of conflict in Syria have claimed the lives of more than half a million people, devastated infrastructure, and plunged the population into poverty. Millions have been displaced, with many seeking refuge abroad, including in Europe.

The gathering in Riyadh marks a significant step in coordinating regional and global efforts to support Syria’s new leadership, offering hope for a nation battered by over a decade of conflict.