Riyadh
Damascus ruler Al-Jolani (Al-Sharaa) held talks with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Riyadh on Wednesday, marking his second visit in just a few weeks and his sixth since assuming office, according to the Syrian presidency. The repeated visits come with significant security and military issues on the agenda.
The visit comes amid reports that Damascus is seeking to join the “Mecca Alliance,” a defense pact signed by Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Pakistan last August.
The alliance is considered complementary to NATO, with commitments technically similar to those outlined in Article 5 of the North Atlantic Treaty.
A few days ago, Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani stated that his country was considering joining the alliance, emphasizing that Gulf security is part of Syria’s own security.
His remarks followed an announcement by Yemen’s Ansar Allah movement alleging the presence of Syrian mercenaries in Yemen, amid reports that Damascus could deploy additional troops to support Riyadh in its war there.