Foreign ministers and senior diplomats from across the Arab World and Europe have arrived in Riyadh to attend high-level talks on Syria.
The meetings, which aim to support Syria after the fall of the Assad regime, are taking place in two sessions, with the first gathering Arab officials and the second bringing together diplomats from Türkiye, the US, Europe and the UN, according to Agence France-Presse (AFP).
Arab Ministerial Meeting
The first session of Riyadh meetings on Syria kicked off on Sunday, under the leadership of the Saudi Foreign Minister, Prince Faisal bin Farhan, and with the participation of the Secretary-General of the Arab League, Ahmed Aboul Gheit, and the Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), Jasem Al-Budaiwi.

With the attendance of the Foreign Ministers of Egypt, Syria, Qatar, the UAE, Jordan, Oman, Lebanon, Kuwait and Bahrain, the meeting focuses on discussing the current situation in Syria and how to bolster political and humanitarian support for the country.
The meetings in Riyadh build on the Aqaba talks, held in Jordan last month. After the Aqaba meetings, diplomats issued a joint statement calling for a Syrian-led transition to “produce an inclusive, non-sectarian and representative government formed through a transparent process.”
Western Diplomats Join Syria Talks
The second session will involve top diplomats representing Western countries, including France, Germany, the UK, Italy, Spain, and Türkiye. The Turkish Foreign Minister, Hakan Fidan, confirmed attendance.
Moreover, the US Acting Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs, John Bass, will attend, arriving from Türkiye after bilateral consultations on Syria, according to the US Department of State. During his stay in Riyadh, from January 11-13, 2025, Bass will hold bilateral meetings with partners to discuss regional and international priorities.
The German Foreign Minister, Annalena Baerbock, is also taking part in the Syria meetings in Saudi Arabia. She expressed hope for a fair political dialogue and a Syrian-led reconstruction process, she told reporters in Riyadh. Baerbock warned that the situation in Syria is volatile, given the recent violence, stressing the importance of the Riyadh meetings in facilitating peaceful transitions in the Middle East, particularly in Syria, reported Asharq Al-Awsat.
Furthermore, the UN Special Envoy for Syria, Geir O. Pedersen, and the High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the European Commission, Kaja Kallas, will participate in the talks. With regards to this, Kallas said on Friday that the EU could begin lifting sanctions if Syria’s new administration took steps towards forming an inclusive government.
UK Participation
In a statement, the UK Foreign Office confirmed the participation of the Foreign Secretary, David Lammy, in Syria meetings in Riyadh. The British Minister will engage with Arab and international partners to boost coordination on Syria and discuss support for the Syrian people to build a hopeful, secure and peaceful future, the statement said.
Moreover, the British Foreign Minister will reiterate the UK’s offer to provide expertise on the coordination of humanitarian aid. The statement added that “the UK remains committed to the people of Syria and fully supports a Syrian-led and Syrian-owned political transition process leading to an inclusive, non-sectarian and representative government.”
Lammy will hold separate bilateral meetings with the Saudi Foreign Minister, Prince Faisal bin Farhan, and several Arab and European Foreign Ministers while in Saudi Arabia.
Saudi Arabia’s Support for Syria
Saudi Arabia has stressed its unwavering support for the Syrian people and their choices, calling for unifying efforts to preserve the unity of Syria and its people and protect the country from descending into chaos and division. The Kingdom also emphasized its support for all measures that aim at achieving Syria’s security and stability while preserving its sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity.
Earlier in January, the Kingdom hosted a high-level delegation representing the new Syrian administration in Riyadh. The delegation, led by Foreign Minister Asaad Al-Shibani, held talks with the Saudi Foreign Minister, and the Saudi Defense Minister, Prince Khalid bin Salman.
The meetings discussed the latest developments in Syria and ways to support the transitional political process to achieve the aspirations of the Syrian people for stability, security and unity.
Moreover, Saudi Arabia launched humanitarian air and land bridges to deliver urgent aid and alleviate the suffering of the Syrian people. The Kingdom, through its humanitarian arm KSRelief, confirmed that this assistance has no limit and the bridges will remain in operation, delivering food, medical and shelter supplies to Damascus. This initiative is a continuation of the Kingdom’s humanitarian endeavors to help countries in need, underscoring its global humanitarian commitment.