Syrian President al-Sharaa visits Bahrain, urges for lifting of sanctions

United News of India

11-05-2025

Manama/Damascus, May 11 (UNI) Syria's President Ahmed al-Sharaa visited Bahrain, days after his trip to France and Turkey.
Earlier, he was in the UAE and Qatar in mid-April. Sharaa also travelled to Saudi Arabia, and to Egypt in early March.
Sharaa has now been to many important Gulf countries, and has visited countries that do not always agree on regional policy.
The visit is seen as part of Damascus' regional strategy, and seeks to balance Saudi Arabia and Turkey, as well as the UAE and Qatar. Bahrain, Jordan, Egypt, and other countries are important to Syria.
Syria also wants to improve ties with the US and is hoping that the Middle East visit by US President Donald Trump in mid-May could help improve ties with Washington.
Sharaa's visit to Bahrain is part of Syria's diplomatic efforts to secure Arab support for the lifting of sanctions and the funding of the country's reconstruction, Syrian officials say.
Bahrain is important because it is a close ally of the West, hosts a US naval base, and is also part of the Abraham Accords.
Sharaa arrived with an official delegation to the capital Manama on May 10. Sheikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the son of the King of Bahrain, received the President al-Sharaa.
Later, King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa of Bahrain received Syrian President Ahmad Al-Shara at Al-Sakhir Palace in the capital, Manama, as part of an official visit, Syria's SANA state media reported.
Bahrain and Syria have discussed expanding cooperation in various sectors, Bahraini Foreign Minister Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani said on Saturday during the first official visit by Syrian leader Ahmed Al-Sharaa.
At a joint press conference with his Syrian counterpart, Al Zayani said Bahrain's King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa had held extensive talks with Al-Sharaa, highlighting the deep-rooted fraternal ties between the two nations. The discussions focused on expanding cooperation in areas including trade, civil aviation, energy, health, and education.
The two sides also reviewed the latest developments in Syria, including national efforts to uphold security, stability, and social unity, said Al Zayani.
Syria's foreign affairs chief Asaad Al-Shaibani described the visit as a turning point in bilateral relations, which opens a new chapter based on mutual trust and respect.
Al-Shaibani said Syria views Bahrain as an active partner in its reconstruction and a major contributor to efforts aimed at reviving the Syrian economy.
He renewed Syria's call for the lifting of economic sanctions, terming it as a humanitarian and regional necessity, as stability in Syria would contribute positively to regional security and reduce risks of migration, poverty, and extremism.
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