Arab-European Talks on Syria’s Future Post-Assad to Be Held in Riyadh

A meeting between Arab and European foreign ministers, United Nations representatives, and international organisations will be held in Riyadh to discuss Syria's future in the post-Assad era. The talks aim to address the challenges of rebuilding the country and ensuring long-term regional stability.

Syria’s newly appointed Foreign Minister, Asaad Al-Sheibani, will participate in the discussions. The meeting will also include the UN envoy to Syria and the European Union’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs.

Arab foreign ministers are scheduled to convene for a preliminary session ahead of broader discussions with their European counterparts and other key officials. Among the international attendees, US Undersecretary of State John Bass is confirmed to participate in both the main meeting and bilateral discussions with partners in Riyadh from January 11th to the 13th.

The Riyadh meeting will build on the outcomes of the December gathering in Aqaba, where the Arab League’s Ministerial Contact Committee on Syria reaffirmed its backing for a peaceful political transition in line with UN Security Council Resolution 2254. That meeting, which included ministers from Turkiye, France and the US, emphasised the importance of restoring stability in Syria and reintegrating the country into the Arab regional framework.

The Arab League’s Contact Committee - comprising Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Lebanon, Egypt, the UAE, Bahrain, Qatar, and the organisation’s Secretary-General - has pledged to support Syria’s rebuilding process.