The consequences of Syria’s stunning power transition in December 2024 extended beyond regional issues; Riyadh also had to rearrange its objectives.
The nation that had led the charge to reintegrate Damascus into the Arab world in 2023 was faced with a new challenge after Bashar al-Assad’s regime fell: How to maintain diplomatic ties with Syria as it enters a rapidly evolving transitional phase without jeopardising its borders, security, and economic interests?
Consequently, Saudi-Syrian relations have shifted from a framework of “cautious normalisation” with the previous regime…
