SYRIA’S ARAB LEAGUE COMEBACK:
BREAKTHROUGH OR PREMATURE DECISION?
The MED This Week newsletter provides expert analysis and informed insights on the most significant developments in the MENA region, bringing together unique opinions on the topic and reliable foresight on possible future scenarios. Today we shed light upon the Arab League’s decision to reintegrate Syria, thus ending a 12-year suspension and marking a tangible diplomatic milestone for al-Assad.
More than ten years after its suspension, Syria has been readmitted to the Arab League. During an emergency meeting held in Cairo on May 7, Arab foreign ministers agreed to reinstate Damascus’ membership, reversing a decision taken back in 2011 after the bloody crackdown of popular protests by regime forces. Highly symbolic, this vote is the latest step in Arab reconciliation efforts with Damascus, a process that has recently gained significant momentum after the February 6 earthquake. Saudi Arabia, in particular, has led recent efforts to bring Syria back into the Arab fold, with the historic visit of the Saudi Foreign Minister to Damascus in April and, more recently, with the decision to restore diplomatic relations. Still, many uncertainties loom in the background, as it is unclear how far Damascus will go with its concessions to the Arab states, especially regarding the Captagon trade, the return of Syrian refugees, and the restart of the political process. Further, the decision to restore Syria’s seat within the League was opposed by some Arab states – like Qatar – that are staunchly criticising the normalisation. Both Washington and Brussels are also sceptical about the concessions towards Assad. On the other hand, Tehran welcomed the announcement of the League, perceived not as a threat to its influence in the country but as part of a broader reconfiguration of regional architecture.
Experts from the ISPI network react to the regional implications of Syria’s readmission in the Arab League.
