Syria and Saudi Arabia sign defense cooperation agreement
After the November 4 signing, a Syrian official confirmed that soldiers had been sent to Saudi Arabia for training, exchanges of expertise and military consultations.
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After the November 4 signing, a Syrian official confirmed that soldiers had been sent to Saudi Arabia for training, exchanges of expertise and military consultations.
Syria and Saudi Arabia signed a defense cooperation agreement in Riyadh on 4 November, with Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman overseeing the signing. Syria’s Foreign Ministry did not disclose its terms.
On 9 November, Al Jazeera said Syrian officials had told the Associated Press that military advisers had already been sent to Saudi Arabia. A Syrian government official separately told the state news agency SANA that soldiers had been sent for training, exchanges of expertise and military consultations.
Saudi Arabia has been a key backer of al-Sharaa’s government since he came to power after Bashar al-Assad’s overthrow in December 2024. The Syrian presidency said al-Sharaa and the crown prince discussed reconstruction, including rebuilding damaged infrastructure and essential facilities, when they previously met in Riyadh on 6 October.
The Saudi Press Agency said the Saudi Fund for Development agreed to provide $403 million in loans on favorable terms under six agreements with Syria’s Finance Ministry. The fund is a Saudi government agency that finances social and infrastructure projects in developing countries.
| Project | Amount |
|---|---|
| Damaged healthcare facilities | $100 million |
| Damaged housing | $60 million |
| Civil defense | $105 million |
| Aleppo thermal power plant | $90 million |
| Drinking water systems in Damascus and Idlib | $30 million |
| Finance Ministry digital and institutional development |
The Saudi Press Agency listed the first five allocations; Sabq identified the sixth project, described the total as more than $403 million and said fund CEO Sultan bin Abdulrahman Al-Murshed and Syrian Finance Minister Mohammad Yaser Barniya signed the financing agreements. North Press put the loans at approximately $403.6 million over 20 years, with a five-year grace period.
Sabq said the power project aims to restore generating capacity and provide stable electricity to about 5 million people. It described plans for 300,000 smart water meters intended to benefit approximately 1.5 million people, and the establishment, rehabilitation and equipping of 25 civil defense centers intended to benefit more than 7 million people and improve emergency, disaster and debris management. The housing project targets repairs to up to 10,000 damaged units.
Sabq said the health project aims to restore basic and specialized services by rehabilitating, establishing and equipping hospitals and health centers, expanding access to care and easing pressure on existing hospitals.
The bilateral agreement is separate from possible Syrian membership of the Mecca alliance, a mutual defense pact among Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan. Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani said before the signing that discussions were under way to evaluate entry.
Syrian political researcher Ahmed Qassem told Al Jazeera that Syria should join the Mecca alliance to gain a deterrent force to protect its sovereignty and deter increasing Israeli encroachment on its territory.
Syria’s Foreign Ministry said the leaders discussed the effects of military escalation on regional security, shipping, energy supplies and the global economy. It said they called for de-escalation, peaceful resolution of disputes and an immediate end to actions threatening navigation in the Red Sea, the Bab al-Mandeb strait and the Strait of Hormuz.
Syrian officials told the Associated Press on 8 November that 600 special forces personnel were due to arrive in Saudi Arabia the following week. Syria’s government also denied a claim reported by AFP that Syrians in Yemen were leading drone operations against the Houthis.
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