Despite the existing strains in Saudi-US relations, the Saudi Crown Prince met with a US delegation led by US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan...However, a Saudi diplomat informed Agence France-Presse that significant progress has yet to be achieved. The diplomat highlighted that a permanent ceasefire is not currently on the table, given that each party involved believes they can achieve victory in the ongoing conflict.
>>>Despite the momentum surrounding normalisation with Israel, Saudi Arabia escalated its stance by conditioning a normalisation deal on establishing a Palestinian state. Israeli journalist David Horovitz said the Saudis presumably seek to “deepen their covert alliances.”
In other words, Saudi Arabia is capitalising on the US’ diminishing involvement in the region and the obsolete roles of Egypt, Iraq, and Syria to solidify its leadership position.
- Hotels and roundabouts have been decorated with the flags of the pan-Arab group’s constituent nations
- Security has been tightened to ensure the safety of high-level delegations and the smooth flow of traffic
JEDDAH: This Saudi city is leaving no stone unturned in giving a warm welcome to the various high-level delegations invited to the upcoming Arab League summit on Friday.
In preparation for the summit, authorities have deployed the national flags of Arab League member states around Jeddah and replanted trees as part of a green drive.
One of the most notable views is that of the Syrian national flag fluttering among the flags of other countries.
Abdulrahman Rammal, a Saudi journalist, said: “It’s so amazing to see the Syrian flag on the streets of Jeddah as it represents a good change and, hopefully, the summit re-establishes the relationship between the Kingdom and Syria.”
Although Rammal does not support the Syrian regime, he believes that the country’s public, through renewed ties, might improve their living conditions and be reunited with relatives.
Dr. Rima Ibrahim, a Syrian living in Jeddah, said: “Witnessing the Syrian flag and its participation in the summit is great. As a Syrian living in Saudi Arabia, re-establishing the relationships between both countries means that we can visit the Syrian Embassy and renew our passports easily, which was not the case during the crisis. Besides, now I can visit my family in Syria and go to my country through direct flights.”
Jordanian citizens are also excited to see their country’s presence at the summit and its work to end the crisis in Syria and bring Damascus back into the Arab fold.
Jeddah is under high security alert, ensuring the safety of high-level delegations and the smooth conduct of traffic from highways to the summit.
Hotels and roundabouts have also been decorated with Arab flags for Friday’s event. The Ritz Carlton has taken special measures as part of its preparations. With the hotel fully booked out for the summit, guests can expect a luxury experience.
Through the summit, Saudi Arabia hopes to reinvigorate Arab ties and improve communication between countries. Important foreign policy topics are set to be at the center of discussion on Friday.
Saudi Wants All to Attend
To reflect its regional and international stature, Saudi Arabia is actively seeking the attendance of all Arab leaders at its upcoming summit. To reach this goal, Riyadh Saudi Arabia leverages its political and diplomatic influence to ensure an unprecedented level of Arab participation .
The Kingdom aims to secure the attendance of Moroccan King Mohammed VI at the summit, with the hope of a symbolic handshake between him and Tebboune. Such an interaction would inaugurate a new symbolic breakthrough in the strained relations between Morocco and Algeria.
After a 12-year absence from Arab summits, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad is anticipated to attend the upcoming Jeddah summit.
Al-Assad’s presence is an instance of pragmatic Saudi policy. Riyadh’s methodology strives not just to resolve regional issues, but also to prepare Arab countries for a new era amidst the Russian-American conflict over the region.
Despite objections from certain Arab partakers, Saudi Arabia has secured Arab consensus on Syria’s reinstatement into the official Arab stage. Observers see this step as indicative of a shift in the regional approach toward the Syrian crisis. They perceive al-Assad’s symbolic attendance at the forthcoming Arab summit as the “most significant development in ending his isolation within the Arab world.”
The Arab Summit is traditionally a protocol-driven event, without anything out of expectations. However, this time, the Syrian regime returns to the Arab League after years of exclusion due to the ongoing crisis that began in Syria in 2011. According to the Saudi minister, hosting the negotiations is not only a reaffirmation of Saudi Arabia’s international standing. It is also a testament to “the result of international cooperation achieved through intensive efforts with the United States, in partnership with the Quad and the Trilateral Mechanism.”
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