By Boaz Shapira
Last week, Ahmed al Sharaa made his first state visit as Syria's interim president. He first visited Saudi Arabia, where he met with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS), before travelling to Turkey, where he was received by President Erdogan.
These visits are very important for al-Sharaa and Syria because they have the potential to shape the future of the country. Firstly, al-Sharaa wants to increase his legitimacy as a leader and secure the support of regional countries for the new regime in Syria. His visits outside Syria as the country’s leader and his reception by prominent leaders in the region contribute to establishing his status and strengthening it. In this context, it is important to note that in recent weeks, numerous diplomatic delegations from around the world have visited Syria, including the Emir of Qatar, Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, who visited the country on January 30.
Second, and no less important, al-Sharaa seeks to recruit Saudi Arabia and Turkey (and of course other countries) for Syria’s reconstruction efforts, understanding that these are expected to last for many years and cost hundreds of billions of dollars. Recruiting these key countries is also expected to help lift sanctions imposed on Syria and thereby further facilitate reconstruction efforts.
However, it is important to note that al-Sharaa’s visit is equally important for Saudi Arabia and Turkey. The two countries are competing for influence in Syria (and the wider region) and both have clear interests in being involved in what happens in the country.
The large amount of money expected to flow from various infrastructure rehabilitation projects in Syria in the coming years is very tempting for both Saudi Arabia and Turkey.
For Saudi Arabia, this is another way to diversify revenue streams, in line with MBS's vision, and for Turkey, it is a potential recovery from the current economic crisis it finds itself in.
Another common interest of the two countries is related to energy infrastructure. Restoring stability in Syria could allow for various projects related to the transportation of gas and oil from the Persian Gulf region to Europe. For example, it is possible to think of transporting oil and gas products from Saudi Arabia, through Jordan to Syria and from there to Europe (via Turkey or the Mediterranean Sea). A similar route can also be used for the passage of goods, in both directions, similar to the situation that existed before the civil war.
Similar projects are also tempting for Türkiye, which would be delighted to take control of, for example, Syria's seaports or gain a foothold in the country's oil and gas fields.
While Saudi Arabia's main economic interests in Syria are concentrated in projects related to the fields of construction, infrastructure rehabilitation, communications, market development, etc., for Turkey there is another aspect, related to the rehabilitation of the Syrian army.
Turkey is considered a large and advanced weapons manufacturer and has the capacity to meet many of the needs of the new Syrian army. This includes missile and rocket systems, unmanned aerial vehicles [drones], ships, command and control components, armored vehicles, light weapons, radars and more.
Furthermore, reports that emerged after the meeting between al-Sharaa and Erdogan claim that they also discussed the possibility of establishing Turkish army bases in Syria.
These are, of course, just a few examples of the potential inherent in the reconstruction of Syria and the possibility of Saudi Arabia and Turkey gaining a significant presence there. Moreover, it is clear to everyone that this economic influence is expected to translate into political and regional influence, which both countries aspire to achieve.
Source: Alma – Research and Education Center