Syria returns to the Arab League
After more than a decade of isolation from the Arab League, on Sunday May 7th 2023, a historic moment was made when delegates to the Arab League made an agreement to reintroduce Syria’s membership. Dubbed the “Jordanian Initiative”, this decision has been long anticipated as preceding weeks have seen many Arab countries normalize relations with Syria. This most notably covered Saudi Arabia, who were once strongly in opposition of normalizing relations with al-Assad - over the course of the past month, they have changed their tune, with Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud making a visit to the Syrian capital Damascus. Following this visit, the two countries have agreed to restore their earlier embassies and re-establish flight routes.
The vote to bring back Syria membership was not met with unanimous positivity. Opposition groups have voiced their concerns with the decision. The United States have also voiced their apprehension, claiming they do not believe Syria should be brought to the group and questioning Assad’s motives in re-joining. However, the US stressed its support for their allies in the Arab League to make positive contributions that would ultimately push Assad to solve the Syrian crisis once and for all. Qatar have also been critics of the Assad government by supporting opposition groups, but did not block the decision by the Arab League. However, Qatar has stressed the need to acknowledge the wants of the Syrian people and address the socioeconomic roots that brought about the Syrian crisis.
In response to such criticism, Hossam Zaki, Assistant Secretary General to the Arab League, defended the decision, claiming it was the “right time”. Following the earthquakes that devastated Turkey and Syria, Zaki stated “the understanding that has been growing for the past several months, especially after the catastrophe of the earthquake, is that there is no clear international attention that is supposed to be driving for a solution in Syria,”. Zaki added the crisis in Syria is not only on Syrian territory, but the effects are felt though the region, and there was a collective understanding that a solution needs to be brought to the Syrian crisis for true, regional stability.
The return of Syria to the Arab League means greater efforts and more pressure to bring a resolution to the Syrian crisis. Egyptian Foreign Minister Samer Shoukry stressed an “Arab-led political solution without foreign dictates” can end the Syrian crisis and was one of the main motives behind Syria’s re-admittance. The decision means Syria will be committed to an Arab dialogue in order to achieve a political solution to the Syrian Civil War in conjunction with the United Nations Security Council Resolution 2254. The return also means cooperation of Syria and the Arab League to work towards tackling the humanitarian crisis, refugee crisis, terrorism and drug smuggling which have plagued the region. The decision presents an optimistic future for both Syria and the region to pursue a long-sought regional stability. Cooperation with the Arab League also opens up greater economic opportunities for Syria, which have already been felt following Iran and Syria agreeing on long-term trade and oil deals.
In truth, the deal plays on a wider, regional dynamic that mirrors a geopolitical re-alignment around the normalisation of ties between Saudi Arabia and Iran. Whilst a solution to the Syrian civil crisis has not yet been found, such normalisation should make future co-operation and humanitarian assistance to one of the most devasting conflicts of the 21st century more attainable, as signs have pointed towards within the Yemeni case.