Syria's President Sharaa visits UAE, Turkey to strengthen ties

Syria’s new President Ahmed al-Sharaa is set to visit the United Arab Emirates and Turkey next week, marking his first visit to the UAE and his second to Turkey since taking office in January. His diplomatic tour follows earlier trips to Saudi Arabia and is part of efforts to strengthen ties with both Arab and Western nations after the fall of Bashar al-Assad in December. Al-Sharaa's administration is actively calling for the lifting of international sanctions that have severely impacted Syria's economy over nearly 14 years of conflict. The upcoming meetings are expected to facilitate discussions on enhancing bilateral cooperation and economic recovery. Al-Sharaa aims to foster greater coordination with Turkey, having previously expressed gratitude for President Erdogan's hospitality during their initial meeting in February. The Syrian government underscores the urgent need for sanctions relief to initiate economic rebuilding efforts.