Jordan, United Arab Emirates, Lebanon and Egypt resume relations with Syria, broken at the outbreak of the civil war in 2011
After a decade in political ostracism, Bashar el-Asad returns to the regional sphere and countries such as Jordan, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Lebanon and Egypt resume, step by step, the broken relations with Syria after the outbreak of war in 2011. The Arab League is also considering his reinstatement after his expulsion at the beginning of the conflict.
The start of the war was a before and after for the Syrian president, who became a kind of pariah leader to whom both the West and his own neighbors turned their backs. Although the United States and its European allies maintain tough sanctions against the Damascus regime, the Arab world backs down and reopens the doors to El-Assad. This return to diplomatic relations, however, has not yet succeeded in delivering investment and aid due to the penalties imposed by Washington.
On Tuesday, UAE Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed traveled to Damascus to explore “new horizons” that will allow the two countries to strengthen bilateral and commercial ties. It was the first visit of this level in the last decade by a president of one of the countries that most firmly supported the armed opposition that rose up against El-Assad. In the final statement issued after the visit, the UAE wanted to show its “support for the efforts for the stability of Syria” and expressed its confidence that the country “under the leadership of El-Assad and the efforts of the people will be able to overcome the challenges caused by war. ‘ The Syrian leader wanted to look to the future and welcomed the “correct and objective” new position of the Gulf country regarding Syria.
Bin Zayed’s official visit was the last gesture of the Arab world towards El-Assad, but first came the call from the King of Jordan Abdullah II, who at the beginning of the war openly showed his support for regime change in Damascus, but that after ten years it is trying to “reinforce cooperation between two sister countries,” according to the royal house in Amman after the telephone conversation between the two leaders.
Trade reactivation
Jordan, home to hundreds of thousands of Syrian refugees, has reopened its border to reactivate trade with its neighbor. These Arab movements also coincide with the support shown by the United States for the project of a gas pipeline to carry gas from Egypt to Lebanon through Jordan and Syria.
Iran and Russia have stood by El-Assad’s side from the first moment, but they have barely engaged in the enormous reconstruction task that lies ahead in the country. The major offensives have ended and although El-Assad controls most of the territory, Turkey occupies part of the north of the country and the United States maintains military support for the Kurds. The economy has collapsed and the humanitarian situation is dire. More than half of the population, over twelve million people, do not have regular access to enough food, according to UN reports.
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