Syria and Saudi Arabia sign defence cooperation agreement

Politics · First reported 4 Nov, 20:22 · Updated 18:49

Image: Wikimedia Commons · NASA Johnson Space Center · Public domain

Syria and Saudi Arabia signed a defence cooperation agreement during Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa’s visit to Riyadh, alongside Saudi concessional loans for reconstruction projects. The agreement’s terms were not disclosed; Syria is also considering whether to join the Mecca defence pact.

The two countries signed a defence cooperation agreement between their defence ministries during al-Sharaa’s visit to Riyadh; the agreement’s terms were not made public.
Saudi Arabia agreed to provide Syria more than $403 million in concessional loans for reconstruction, including projects involving healthcare, housing, civil defence, power and water.
Syria’s foreign minister said the government was evaluating whether to join the Mecca defence pact with Saudi Arabia, Türkiye and Pakistan.
The countries’ leaders discussed regional security and maritime navigation and called for de-escalation, according to the Syrian Foreign Ministry.
Reporting describes the defence agreement as undisclosed in detail; the supplied articles do not establish whether it entails a Syrian role in the Houthi conflict.

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Key facts

Saudi loans: More than $403 million in concessional loans under six agreements.
Loan project examples: $100 million for healthcare facilities; $90 million for the Aleppo thermal power plant; $30 million for drinking-water systems in Damascus and Idlib.
Defence agreement: Signed between the two countries’ defence ministries; terms were not disclosed.
Mecca pact: Syria was reported to be evaluating whether to join the pact with Saudi Arabia, Türkiye and Pakistan.