Riyadh and Damascus are going to get closer thanks to the Iran-Saudi pact

 

Bashar al-Assad was on the move again just days after receiving a red carpet welcome in Moscow last week, encouraged by a strong effort to promote reconciliation in the area.

On Sunday, Abu Dhabi was the final stop and UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed al-Nahyan awaited. Abu Dhabi is frequently a key link on a board of quickly moving pieces.

The visit was strategically scheduled to follow the historic deal between Saudi Arabia and Iran, mediated by China, which Damascus watched with great interest.

A lowering of hostilities between Iran and Riyadh has an impact on Syria and much of the Middle East. The nation has served as a frontline theater of conflict as the regional hegemons have waged a brutal proxy war over the past ten years.

One of the last obstacles to a Saudi-Syrian reconciliation has been overcome with the two now on speaking terms, making the way for a long-awaited reengagement easier to take.

The Iran-Saudi agreement is expected to have a significant impact on the region, and Syria is already feeling the effects.

Assad's trip to the UAE was more than just an effort to increase his standing locally. Reengagement with Saudi Arabia as a long-term objective was a topic that was very much on the table.

Many stories suggested a forthcoming Saudi return to Damascus after connections were severed at the start of the Syrian war, and a multitude of rumors and reports spilled into the Arab media scene.

Abd Rabbo said in a statement to Middle East Eye: “A significant meeting between Syrian and Saudi officials took place in Riyadh a few days ago. It was the first political exchange between the two, and future steps toward normalizing relations were decided.”