Syria, Saudi Arabia Sign Defense Pact, Agree to $403M in Loans

Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman oversaw the signing of a defense cooperation agreement and more than $403 million in Saudi loans for Syria's energy, housing, health and infrastructure sectors on Wednesday, according to Al Jazeera, which cited Reuters reporting from Riyadh.

What Did Syria and Saudi Arabia Agree To?

Syria's Foreign Ministry called the defense agreement between the two countries' defense ministries the "most notable" of the deals signed during the visit, Al Jazeera reported, though the ministry did not disclose its terms. The package of agreements also included the loans for Syrian energy, housing, health and infrastructure projects, totaling more than $403 million, per the same report.

Why Is al-Sharaa Visiting Riyadh Again So Soon?

Wednesday's signing marked al-Sharaa's second visit to Riyadh in less than a month, according to Al Jazeera. Syrian political researcher Ahmed Qassem told the outlet that the repeat trip "indicates the magnitude of the security challenges in the region" as well as inside Syria itself.

"Second visit in such a short time indicates the magnitude of the security challenges in the region," Ahmed Qassem, a Syrian political researcher, told Al Jazeera.

Qassem argued Syria should join the Mecca alliance, saying the country needs a "deterrence force" to protect its sovereignty and counter what he described as increasing Israeli encroachment on Syrian territory, Al Jazeera reported.

What Is the Mecca Alliance and Could Syria Join?

The defense deal came days after Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani said Damascus was weighing whether to join a mutual defense pact among Saudi Arabia, Turkiye and Pakistan. "Discussions are currently under way to evaluate Syria's entry into the Mecca alliance," al-Shaibani said Saturday at the Manama Dialogue security conference in Bahrain, according to Al Jazeera.

What Regional Tensions Did the Leaders Address?

In a statement on X cited by Al Jazeera, Syria's Foreign Ministry said al-Sharaa and Prince Mohammed discussed the "current regional and international situation," including the effects of military escalation on regional security, the safety of international shipping, the reliability of energy supplies and the stability of the global economy. The two leaders called for de-escalation and the peaceful resolution of disputes and urged an "immediate cessation of all actions that threaten the security of maritime navigation" in the Red Sea, the Bab al-Mandeb strait and the Strait of Hormuz, the ministry's statement said.

The talks come as Saudi Arabia has sought defensive and offensive support from the United States and countries in Europe and the Middle East amid a renewed war against Houthi forces in Yemen, who have attacked Saudi airports and oil facilities while fighting forces aligned with Yemen's internationally recognized government, Al Jazeera reported.

What Happens Next?

Neither government has set a timeline for finalizing Syria's potential entry into the Mecca alliance, and the specific terms of the new defense cooperation agreement remain undisclosed. Al Jazeera did not report a date for additional talks between Riyadh and Damascus.