Ahmed Alshara, the interim president of the Syrian transitional government, visited Saudi Arabia on the 2nd (local time) for his first overseas trip since taking office and met with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the de facto ruler.
According to AFP and other sources, President Alshara visited Saudi Arabia on a private plane provided by the Saudi side, accompanied by Foreign Minister Assad Hassan Al-Sibani.
Ahmed Alshara, Interim President of Syria (left), and Mohammed bin Salman, Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia (right). Photo by AFP Yonhap News
He later held a meeting with Crown Prince bin Salman and stated in a Telegram statement, "During the long meeting, I could feel Saudi Arabia's sincerity in helping to build the future of Syria."
President Alshara, the leader of the Islamic armed group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) that ousted the dictator Assad last December, took office as interim president of the transitional government on the 29th of last month. According to AFP, King Salman of Saudi Arabia and Crown Prince bin Salman were the first to congratulate President Alshara on his official inauguration.
Choosing Sunni powerhouse Saudi Arabia as his first overseas destination is interpreted as a move to differentiate from the previous Bashar al-Assad government, which was closely allied with Iran, Saudi Arabia's rival and the leader of the Shia faction.
Saudi Arabia provided financial support to Sunni rebel groups opposing the Assad regime during the Syrian civil war. The Syrian transitional government hopes for support from wealthy Gulf Sunni countries for the reconstruction of the war-torn nation and economic revival. Since taking office, President Alshara has emphasized a practical and moderate policy by appointing women to high-ranking positions and declaring that women are not required to wear the hijab, highlighting his role as a legitimate government rather than a rebel group.
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