BAGHDAD: The Prime Minister of Iraq, Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani, and the President of Syria, Bashar al-Assad, convened in Damascus on Sunday. This significant meeting marks the first of its kind involving an Iraqi premier since the inception of the Syrian war in 2011.
At a joint press event, the leaders articulated their focus on safeguarding their mutual 600-kilometer border from threats like the Islamic State militants. In addition, they pledged to increase collaborative efforts to minimize drug trafficking in the region.
Both nations are grappling with severe drought conditions, a consequence of reduced rainfall, climate change, and the damming activities of Turkiye upstream. Al-Sudani emphasized the urgency of joint cooperation to ensure a fair distribution of water resources.
Iraq and Syria, both closely aligned with regional powerhouse Iran in terms of economic, military, and political affairs, have sustained their relationship throughout the course of Syria’s civil war. Even when other Arab countries pulled their ambassadors and shut down their Syrian embassies, Iraq and Syria held their diplomatic ground. Moreover, armed groups backed by Iran joined the two countries in the battle against the extremist Islamic State group, which had expanded from Iraq into Syria.
Farhad Alaaldin, the foreign affairs advisor to the PM, commented before the meeting that Al-Sudani intended to address the trafficking of the amphetamine Captagon and the potential reopening of a Mediterranean oil export pipeline, which could help diversify Iraq’s export channels.
Al-Sudani’s Damascus visit coincides with other nations, including Saudi Arabia, taking steps towards renewing ties with Syria after a long period of strained relations.
The Arab League suspended Syria in 2011 due to Assad’s violent suppression of public protests, and several Gulf states backed the armed resistance to his administration. Nevertheless, Assad managed to regain control over the majority of Syria, thanks largely to military and economic support from Russia and Iran. With Syria’s readmission to the Arab League in May, regional countries are now initiating conversations with Assad to combat drug trafficking and enable return of millions of refugees.
