Egyptian Official Meets Syrian President in Rare Visit as Arab Nations Re-engage with Damascus

Ahmed Seif EL-Din

Egypt’s Foreign Minister, Sameh Shoukry, travelled to Syria to meet with President Bashar al-Assad, marking the first visit by a senior regional official to Damascus since the eruption of Syria’s civil war 12 years ago. The trip was a show of solidarity following the recent earthquake that killed over 6,000 Syrians, as Egypt pledged to provide further aid to the country in coordination with its government. The UAE and Jordan have already sent their foreign ministers to visit Syria, while Assad himself travelled to Oman earlier this month.

The Arab nations have been hesitant to re-engage with the Syrian regime after the brutal civil war that saw it regain control over two-thirds of the country, with the support of Russia and Iran. For years, Damascus remained isolated from the international community, and its regime still faces international sanctions due to the extensive human rights violations it committed against its own citizens during the war. However, the recent visits and engagements suggest that the arms-length approach towards Syria may be coming to an end.

Prince Faisal bin Farhan al-Saud, Saudi Arabia’s foreign minister, stated this month that there was “a growing consensus” in the Arab world that isolating Syria was not working and that a new approach needed to be formulated to address the humanitarian crisis and Syrian refugees in neighbouring countries. While re-engaging with the Syrian regime, Arab countries are also seeking to draw Assad away from his regional allies, especially Iran.

Emile Hokayem, the Director of Regional Security at the International Institute for Strategic Studies in London, stated that Arab governments had been seeking to re-engage with Damascus for some time but have found it challenging to come up with a workable policy. He believes that there’s a lack of policy alternatives, and it’s difficult to see what Assad can offer given his weakness and indebtedness to Russia and Iran. Furthermore, there is a suspicion that the US wants to withdraw from Syria, so everyone is trying to stake out a position.

The re-engagement with Syria remains a controversial issue, with the Syrian regime accused of widespread human rights violations and Assad accused of being responsible for war crimes. However, with the humanitarian situation in the country deteriorating, some Arab nations are seeking to provide aid and support, even if it means engaging with the regime.