Gulf bloc to offer political, economic support to Syria

DAMASCUS, Syria

The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) said Tuesday said it plans to provide support to Syria in the political, economic and developmental fields.

GCC Secretary-General Jasem Al-Budaiwi and Kuwaiti Foreign Minister Abdullah al-Yahya, whose country is the current chair of the Gulf bloc, visited Damascus on Monday and met with the head of Syria’s new administration Ahmed al-Sharaa.

The visit was part of a series of regional and international delegations arriving in Syria to meet with the new leadership following the ousting of the Bashar al-Assad regime.

In a post on his X account, Budaiwi said he affirmed the GCC’s commitment to supporting efforts aimed at achieving the aspirations of the Syrian people for development and peace and rejection of all forms of foreign interference.

He said the Gulf bloc supports Syria's unity, sovereignty and stability "in a way that enhances the security and prosperity of its people."

The GCC chief stressed that Syria’s security and stability are a "cornerstone" of the entire region's stability.

Assad, Syria’s leader for nearly 25 years, fled to Russia after anti-regime groups took control of Damascus on Dec. 8, ending the Baath Party’s regime, which had been in power since 1963.

*Writing by Ahmed Asmar in Ankara