Riyadh (TDI): Saudi Arabia and Syria have signed a defense cooperation agreement between their respective defense ministries, marking a further step in efforts to expand bilateral ties amid escalating regional security tensions.
The agreement was signed on Wednesday during Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa’s visit to Riyadh, where he met Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, according to Saudi state news agency SPA.
The two leaders also witnessed the signing of several agreements covering military cooperation, infrastructure and energy. However, officials did not disclose specific details of the defense agreement or outline the scope of the military cooperation envisaged under the arrangement.
The development comes as Saudi Arabia faces continued missile and drone attacks by Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthi movement, raising security concerns across the region.
Last month, Reuters reported that Syria was carefully considering the possibility of providing military assistance to Saudi Arabia amid the kingdom’s escalating conflict with the Houthis. A Syrian diplomat said at the time that any request for military cooperation or the exchange of expertise would be handled through official channels and within the framework of existing bilateral agreements.
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Saudi Arabia has been seeking defensive and offensive support from partners in the United States, Europe and the wider Middle East as it confronts renewed security challenges linked to the conflict in Yemen.
The defense agreement formed part of a wider package of arrangements announced during Al-Sharaa’s visit, reflecting efforts by Riyadh and Damascus to strengthen political and economic relations.
Saudi Arabia has provided financial assistance to Syria and played a significant role in supporting Damascus’s efforts to rebuild relations with international partners following the overthrow of former Syrian president Bashar al-Assad.
On Wednesday, the Saudi Fund for Development signed six agreements with Syria’s Ministry of Finance for concessional development loans worth more than $403 million.
According to the Syrian Finance Ministry, the financing is intended to support development projects and improve services across several sectors.
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The agreements add an economic dimension to the expanding relationship, as Syria seeks international financial support for reconstruction and the restoration of essential services.
Al-Sharaa’s latest visit also followed another meeting with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Saudi Arabia less than a month earlier, underlining the frequency of high-level contacts between the two governments.
The agreement, alongside the infrastructure, energy and development financing arrangements, signals a broadening of cooperation between Riyadh and Damascus. Its practical military implications, however, remain unclear pending the release of further details by the two sides.
