President of the United Arab Emirates, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, held talks with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan in Abu Dhabi to address the ongoing conflict in Gaza between Israel and Hamas, as well as the evolving situation in Syria following the recent change in government. The discussions emphasized the need to prevent the escalation of regional tensions and safeguard stability, according to a statement released by UAE's WAM news agency.
During the meeting, both leaders reaffirmed their commitment to the stability, sovereignty, and territorial integrity of Syria. This comes amid significant developments in the region, including the Syrian opposition's advance into Damascus on December 8, which led to President Bashar al-Assad stepping down and leaving the country. On December 10, Mohammed al-Bashir, previously heading the Salvation Government in Idlib, declared himself the head of Syria’s transitional cabinet until March 1, 2025.
In related developments, on December 23, UAE Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan held a phone call with Asaad Hassan al-Shibani, Foreign Minister of Syria's transitional government. They discussed enhancing "brotherly relations" between their nations across various fields, as reported by WAM.
The UAE's stance reflects broader shifts among Arab nations. While most withdrew ambassadors and supported economic sanctions against Damascus during Syria's civil war, some Gulf states, including Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE, later normalized relations with the Syrian government. However, with the recent regime change, numerous Syrian diplomatic missions have replaced the former government’s flag with that of the opposition.
GSV "Russia - Islamic World"
Based on TASS materials