Syria’s Assad visits UAE, first journey to Arab state since battle started

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad travelled to the United Arab Emirates Friday, his first go to to an Arab state for the reason that Syrian battle started in 2011, underlining warming ties with a US-allied nation that when backed rebels who sought his ouster.

Assad met Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed al-Nahyan who “stressed that Syria is a fundamental pillar of Arab security, and that the UAE is keen to strengthen cooperation with it”, Emirati state information company (WAM) reported. A video posted by WAM confirmed Assad smiling as he stood alongside Sheikh Mohammed in entrance of the Syrian and Emirati flags, in addition to gesticulating and smiling throughout talks.

The go to drew a pointy rebuke from Washington, with the State Department saying it was “profoundly disappointed and troubled” by what it known as an obvious try to legitimise Assad.

Assad’s solely journeys exterior Syria through the battle have been to Iran and Russia, shut allies whose army help helped him flip the tide towards opponents who had been backed by governments together with US-allied Gulf states. He additionally met on Friday with Dubai ruler Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum, the Syrian presidency mentioned in an announcement.

The timing of the journey coincided with the eleventh anniversary of the Syrian rebellion, which started in March 2011, and at a time when Washington has been working worldwide to unite allies and companions towards Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

State Department spokesperson Ned Price reiterated that Washington stays against efforts to normalise ties or rehabilitate Assad. He mentioned the United States is not going to waive or raise sanctions on Syria except progress is made towards a political resolution to the battle, which has killed lots of of hundreds of individuals since spiralling out of an rebellion towards Assad.

#VIDEO: #AbuDhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed receives #Syria‘s President Bashar Al-Assad in #UAE — WAM pic.twitter.com/Q7JL6il0gq

— Saudi Gazette (@Saudi_Gazette) March 18, 2022

“We urge states considering engagement with the Assad regime to weigh carefully the horrific atrocities visited by the regime on the Syrians over the last decade, as well as the regime’s continuing efforts to deny much of the country access to humanitarian aid and security,” Price mentioned in an e mail.

Washington had expressed concern in November when the UAE overseas minister visited Damascus and met Assad. But the Biden administration has eroded its political capital with each Riyadh and Abu Dhabi by not heeding their considerations about regional rival Iran, ending its help for his or her battle in Yemen and slapping situations on US weapons gross sales to the Gulf states.

BREAKING : HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid welcomes Syria President Bashar Al Assad in Dubai – Dubai Media Office – 🇦🇪🇸🇾 pic.twitter.com/iI67g9aPoq

— حسن سجواني 🇦🇪 Hassan Sajwani (@HSajwanization) March 18, 2022

WAM mentioned the perimeters emphasised “the preservation of the territorial integrity of Syria and the withdrawal of foreign forces” from the fragmented nation the place Russia, Iran, Turkey and the United States all have a army presence. They additionally mentioned political and humanitarian help for Syria and its folks to succeed in a peaceable resolution to all of the challenges it faces, WAM reported.

WAM mentioned Sheikh Mohammed “expressed his wishes that this visit will pave the way for goodness, peace and stability to prevail in Syria and the entire region”. Assad briefed him on the most recent developments in Syria, it mentioned.

Assad was seen off by Sheikh Mohammed on the airport.

The conferences marked the most recent in a collection of diplomatic overtures that time to a shift underway within the Middle East the place a number of Arab international locations are reviving ties with Assad. Signs of rapprochement between Assad and Arab states grew final 12 months, together with a cellphone name with King Abdullah of Jordan, one other US ally.

Analysts say political and financial issues loom massive for Arab states which are searching for nearer ties with Assad, together with how you can counter the affect of Iran and Turkey.