Saudi Arabia, Syria sign military, financial pacts in Riyadh as ties between countries deepen

Saudi Arabia and Syria signed a military cooperation agreement on Wednesday during Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa's visit to Riyadh, where he met Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. The Saudi Fund for Development also signed six agreements providing over $403 million in concessional loans for healthcare, power, housing, and civil defense. Syria is considering joining the Mecca Pact and assisting against Iran-backed Houthis.

Saudi Arabia and Syria signed a military cooperation agreement on Wednesday during Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa's visit to Riyadh, where he met Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for the second time in a month, as relations between the two countries continue to deepen. Although details of the military agreement have not been made public, Reuters previously reported that Syria was considering assisting in the war against the Iran-backed Houthis. Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani has also confirmed in recent weeks that Damascus is considering joining the Mecca Pact, an agreement currently involving Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and Pakistan, with Egypt also expressing interest. Separately, the Saudi Fund for Development signed six agreements with Syria's Finance Ministry to provide more than $403 million in concessional development loans, including $100 million for healthcare facilities, $90 million for Aleppo's thermal power plant, $60 million for housing repair, and $105 million for civil defense. Saudi Arabia has already signed major investment agreements covering energy, telecommunications, aviation, and real estate, including a $2 billion airport development and a nearly $1 billion telecom project. The article relies on official statements and Reuters reporting, with no independent verification of the agreements' terms.