Syria’s Ahmed al-Sharaa is set to visit the United Arab Emirates on Sunday, marking his second trip to a Gulf nation since becoming president, according to the country’s official news agency. This visit comes as Syria’s Islamist leadership aims to reassure international partners of their commitment to establishing an inclusive political framework.
Sharaa will be joined by Foreign Minister Assad al-Shibani, who had previously traveled to the UAE earlier this year.
The discussions are anticipated to cover various topics of shared interest, although specific details have not been disclosed by the SANA state news agency.
Sharaa’s first foreign trip as president was to Saudi Arabia in February, following his assumption of office in January. His upcoming visit to the UAE is part of the new Syrian administration’s efforts to enhance relations with both Arab and Western leaders after the ousting of Bashar al-Assad in December by Sharaa’s Sunni Islamist group, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham.
Abu Dhabi has historically opposed Islamist factions throughout the region, including those in Egypt, Sudan, and Libya, and has previously expressed concerns about extremism and terrorism in Syria after Assad’s downfall.
The West is closely monitoring Syria’s leadership to ensure the establishment of an inclusive government with robust institutions, the maintenance of order in a nation scarred by civil conflict, and the prevention of a resurgence of groups like Islamic State or al-Qaeda.
Syria urgently requires the lifting of sanctions to rejuvenate its economy following 14 years of conflict, during which the United States and Europe implemented extensive sanctions aimed at pressuring Assad.
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