A Researcher at Omran Center for Strategic Studies

In comments to Syria Now, Omran Center researcher Muhsen ALMustafa interpreted President Ahmed al-Sharaa’s return to Riyadh about a month after his previous visit as an indication that shared issues required follow-up and decisions by the two leaderships. The participation of the defence, finance and industry ministers and the intelligence chief, alongside expectations of agreements, suggested a move from political rapprochement toward broader practical cooperation.

He expected the visit to combine follow-up on the economic partnership with coordination on regional positions. Damascus seeks support for its recovery and political standing, while Riyadh has an interest in Syria’s stability and closer cooperation. The agreements and concluding statements would reveal the relative weight of each issue.

ALMustafa noted that Yemen and regional security could feature in the discussions, but stressed that the delegation’s composition alone did not establish Yemen as the visit’s focus. The implications of Israel’s elections for policy toward Syria and prospects for security understandings might also be discussed, while linking the visit’s timing specifically to those elections remained a hypothesis requiring evidence.

Muhsen ALMustafa discussed the reassignment of command positions in the Syrian army, explaining how commanders can remain within the military institution while being separated from direct command of their former formations.

Speaking to Asharq News, Muhsen AlMustafa explains that eased licensing restrictions allow applications to be considered while Washington retains approval authority. He stresses turning unified command into an institution where loyalty to the state supersedes factional affiliation, with doctrine guiding missions, training and equipment, while noting improvements in the army’s structure. He advocates gradual rebuilding with sustainable funding for salaries, training and maintenance. He warns that reliance on a single supporter could create influence, but considers this unlikely given the leadership’s commitment to independent decision-making.