Syria is increasing its diplomatic outreach as part of the focus that the new Syrian transitional president Ahmed al-Sharaa and his foreign ministry have put on international relations.
Syria knows that it faces hurdles on other fronts, such as the defense front, so it focuses on foreign ties. It is biding its time and growing its strength slowly; it knows that ties with other countries will be key to investment and support.
Syria’s Foreign Minister Asaad Hassan al-Shaibani has been the point person on establishing more ties for his country.
Sharaa also leads the efforts personally. He is working to improve Syria’s ties with several circles of countries. One circle comprises the Arab states; another, the Western powers. Sharaa is also operating on global powerhouses, such as the United States, China, and Russia. In addition, he is working the international circle to improve Syria’s image.
The Arab League reaffirmed support for Syria at a recent meeting. Syrian state media noted on September 5 that “The Arab League Council, at the level of foreign ministers, reaffirmed its unwavering commitment to the unity, sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity of Syria, and condemned the Israeli incursions, which constitute a clear violation of the UN Charter and international resolutions.”
On September 6, Sharaa met with a number of ambassadors from brotherly and friendly Arab countries and discussed ways to boost mutual cooperation, Syria’s state media SANA reported. “The meeting was attended by Foreign Affairs and Expatriates Minister Asaad Hassan al-Shaibani. During the meeting, president Sharaa affirmed the importance of expanding areas of coordination and developing channels of communication.” It added that “The ambassadors, in turn, stressed their countries’ commitment to continuing joint efforts that serve mutual interests and strengthen fraternal and friendly ties.”
Among the new ambassadors received in Damascus were two from North Africa. Sharaa met with the new ambassador from Algeria, Abdelkader Qasim al-Hasani, who also met with Shaibani. The two men also met with Mauritania’s new ambassador to Syria, Taleb Mokhtar Sheikh Mohamed al-Mujtaba. In addition, Sharaa received credentials from the Ambassador of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan to the Syrian Arab Republic Sufyan Suleiman Al-Qudah.
Shaibani met, too, with UN Special Envoy for Syria Geir Pedersen and his accompanying delegation in the capital, Damascus.
“The two sides discussed recent developments in the region, emphasized respect for Syria’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, and the need to create appropriate conditions for the return of refugees and the improvement of the humanitarian situation,” SANA reported. This came after Syria also received a report from Amnesty International on the July clashes in Sweida.
Outreach to China
Syria is also doing outreach to China. SANA noted that “Shaibani received, on Saturday, the Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China to the Syrian Arab Republic Mr. Shi Hongwei. During the meeting, they discussed ways to enhance bilateral cooperation between the two countries in various fields.”
Syria wants China to support its territorial integrity and sovereignty. What this means is that it wants China’s backing in the future against Israeli incursions and any possible clashes in eastern Syria with the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces. Syria’s president is biding his time, the way China slowly built its strength in the 1980s and 1990s.