After a decade of being shunned by many Arab nations, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad is set to attend the Arab League Summit in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia on Friday. The move marks a major turnaround for many Arab states, who cut ties with al-Assad as he brutally suppressed an anti-government uprising that morphed into a civil war. Saudi Arabia, the regional political heavyweight, has recently gotten on board with the effort to restore Syria’s membership in the Arab League. The goals vary from country to country, but for Saudi officials they include countering the influence of Iran and blocking the trade of captagon, an illicit amphetamine, across Syria’s borders and into the kingdom. The summit is expected to offer Arab solutions to Arab problems and provide a platform for Syria to work together with its Arab brothers.
Categories