Ministers from 17 Middle Eastern and Western countries gathered in Riyadh on Sunday to discuss accelerating aid to Syria’s new government while maintaining pressure on the leadership to form a more inclusive administration.
The meeting, which included Syria’s foreign minister, Asaad al-Shibani, sought to address the challenges of rebuilding Syria amid ongoing humanitarian needs and political transitions.
The Riyadh summit was attended by participants from countries including Germany, the United States, UK, Italy, Türkiye, Syria, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Oman, Qatar, Kuwait, Iraq, Lebanon, Jordan, and Egypt.
The talks saw the participation of United States Undersecretary of State John Bass, German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock and British Foreign Secretary David Lammy.
Focus on aid and economic sanctions
The meeting, chaired by Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, focused on the lifting of sanctions on Syria, and expressed support for Syria’s political transition.
The summit took place amid growing calls from Syrian protesters for the West to ease economic sanctions to encourage more refugees to return. The U.S. recently eased restrictions on emergency humanitarian aid and energy supplies, enabling Qatar to send a gas tanker to Syria on Sunday.
Ministers discussed how to expedite support while ensuring that the new Syrian leadership upholds its commitment to running an administration that represents all ethnic and religious groups.
German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock emphasized the urgency of providing immediate relief: “Syrians now need a quick dividend from the transition of power, and we continue to help those in Syria who have nothing.” She announced an additional €50 million in aid for food, shelter, and medical care.
The summit comes as Syria’s new administration, led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), has urged the lifting of sanctions by the West to help international funding flow to Damascus.
The U.S. has also dropped a $10 million bounty on the capture of Ahmad al-Sharaa, a Syrian rebel leader, whose forces led the ouster of Assad last month. Al-Sharaa has pledged an inclusive Syria that respects the rights of religious minorities.
Military factions and the Kurdish forces
Another key issue discussed was the integration of military factions within Syria’s national army. Qatar expressed concern over potential job losses for Alawite public sector workers, offering to help subsidize salaries.
Meanwhile, the situation in northeastern Syria remains complex, with Turkish operations against Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) raising questions about whether the SDF could reach an agreement with Damascus.
EU Foreign Affairs Chief Kaja Kallas noted that while sanctions affecting Syria’s rebuilding efforts may need to be addressed, the international community is also prepared to take additional steps if progress is made. The scale of Syria’s devastation, estimated to cost up to $500 billion, highlights the complexity of the country’s long-term recovery.
European diplomats will consider easing sanctions on Syria
European foreign ministers have agreed to meet at the end of January to discuss lifting sanctions on Syria. Kaja Kallas, the European Union’s foreign policy chief, confirmed that the ministers will convene in Brussels on January 27 to explore how the 27-member bloc might approach the issue.
Kallas emphasized that the EU seeks an inclusive government in Syria that respects the rights of women and other groups while avoiding signs of “radicalization.” She stressed that the bloc is prepared to reverse any sanctions relief if necessary.
Six European Union member states have called for the bloc to temporarily suspend sanctions on Syria in areas such as transport, energy and banking. The document, signed by Germany, France, the Netherlands, Spain, Finland and Denmark, said the EU “should immediately begin adjusting our sanctions regime”. However, the document also warned that further sanctions may not be lifted if EU expectations of respect for human rights and minorities are not met.