Saudi Arabia has made a historic move by appointing its first ambassador to Syria since severing ties with Damascus in 2012. Faisal al-Mujfel’s appointment marks a significant step in the ongoing thawing of relations between the two countries, following Syria’s readmission to the Arab League over a year ago.
The Arab League had suspended Syria for over a decade due to President Bashar Assad’s brutal crackdown on anti-government protesters in 2011. The conflict in Syria, now in its 14th year, has resulted in the deaths of nearly half a million people and the displacement of half of the country’s pre-war population.
The recent devastating earthquake in February 2023 that rocked Turkey and northern Syria served as a catalyst for many Arab countries to reinstate ties with President Assad. In March 2023, Saudi Arabia and Iran also agreed to reestablish diplomatic relations, aiming to reduce conflict between the two countries.
Saudi Arabia has been leading a coalition against the Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen since 2015, turning the conflict into a proxy war between Saudi Arabia and Iran. The recent meeting between Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and United States National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan indicates a potential wide-ranging security agreement, including efforts to end Israel’s war on Hamas in Gaza and support a two-state solution for the Palestinian people.
The appointment of an ambassador to Syria and the diplomatic efforts in the region signal a shift towards stability and cooperation in the Middle East, after years of conflict and unrest.