Saudi King to Finally Visit Syria Soon

The long-predicted but slow-starting Syrian-Saudi rapprochement is about to take a major leap forward, with reports that King ‘Abdullah will visit Damascus in the next few days. (That link is an Israeli report, though the Syrian and Saudi press agencies have announced the visit is forthcoming shortly without giving a date).

This will be the first visit by a Saudi monarch to Syria since the assassination of Rafiq Hariri. Less than two weeks ago, Bashar al-Asad visited Saudi Arabia and met the King during the opening of King ‘Abdullah University for Science and Technology. That important breakthrough was overshadowed by the UN General Assembly opening, but now the reciprocal visit is imminent.

‘Abdullah has always been one of the more pro-Syrian members of the Saudi Royal Family. One of his favorite wives was a Syrian ‘Alawite, said to have family links to a wife of Rif‘at al-Asad (now in exile, but uncle of Bashar). He was always friendly with Hafiz al-Asad, spent time in Syria, and had links with Syrian security elements (who are mostly ‘Alawite). But the Saudis were furious at the assassination of Hariri — who probably spent more of his life in the Kingdom than in Lebanon — and also fear Syria's alignment with Iran. ‘Abdullah has certainly been working for a Syrian-Saudi rapprochement, but the Kingdom will expect Syria to integrate itself more closely with the "moderate" Sunni states as a quid pro quo. It will possibly also want to see Sa‘d Hariri — who has certainly spent more of his life in the Kingdom than in Lebanon — installed as Lebanese Prime Minister at last.