Latest news with #AsaadShibani
Asharq Al-Awsat
14-08-2025
- Politics
- Asharq Al-Awsat
Türkiye, Syria Sign Defense Cooperation MoU after Ankara Talks
The defense ministers of Türkiye and Syria signed a memorandum of understanding on military training and consultancy after talks in Ankara on Wednesday, Türkiye's defense ministry said. The neighbors had been negotiating a comprehensive military cooperation agreement for months, after the ousting of Bashar al-Assad in December. Also, speaking at a news conference in Ankara with Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shibani, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan accused Israel and the Kurdish Syrian Democratic Forces, or SDF, of undermining the country's efforts to reestablish itself after more than a decade of civil war. He said Israel had 'fueled certain difficulties' in Syria and warned that Israeli security "cannot be achieved through undermining the security of your neighbors." 'To the contrary, you should make sure your neighboring countries are prosperous and secure. If you try to destabilize these countries, if you take steps to that end, this could trigger other crises in the region.' Most recently, hundreds were killed in clashes in the southern province of Sweida between government forces and local Bedouin tribesmen on one side and fighters from the Druze minority on the other.
Jordan Times
12-08-2025
- Politics
- Jordan Times
Foreign minister, Syrian counterpart discuss cooperation, reconstruction efforts
AMMAN — Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Ayman Safadi on Tuesday received Syria's Foreign Minister Asaad Shibani ahead of the joint Jordanian-Syrian-American trilateral meeting to discuss the situation in Syria. During the meeting, Safadi and Shibani reiterated the deep, longstanding ties between Jordan and Syria, emphasising their commitment to further developing cooperation across various sectors, in accordance with the directives of their respective leaderships. The two ministers also reviewed efforts to maintain the ceasefire in Suwayda Governorate in southern Syria and discussed ways to resolve the ongoing crisis there, according to a Ministry of Foreign Affairs statement. Safadi reiterated Jordan's steadfast support for the Syrian government's reconstruction efforts, stressing that these must be based on principles that ensure Syria's unity, security, stability, sovereignty, the protection of its territory and citizens, and the preservation of the rights of all Syrians. He also stressed Jordan's position in supporting Syria's security, sovereignty, territorial integrity, and the safety of its people, firmly rejecting any foreign interference in Syrian affairs. Safadi underscored that Syria's security is a cornerstone of regional stability and called on all parties to respect Syria's sovereignty and territorial integrity. The ministers jointly condemned the repeated Israeli attacks and airstrikes on Syria, describing them as flagrant violations of international law and aggression against Syrian sovereignty. They also stressed that such actions aim to undermine Syria's security and stability, threaten the safety of its citizens, jeopardise regional peace, and violate the 1974 Disengagement Agreement between Syria and Israel. Shibani expressed appreciation for Jordan's ongoing role and efforts in supporting Syria's reconstruction process, safeguarding its security and stability, upholding its sovereignty, and fulfilling the aspirations of the Syrian people.
Zawya
21-05-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Jordan, Syria sign MoU, agree on concrete steps to advance bilateral relations
AMMAN — Jordan and Syria on Tuesday signed a memorandum of understanding to establish and activate a Higher Coordination Council, marking a new phase in bilateral relations between the two neighbouring countries. The agreement was signed in Damascus by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Ayman Safadi and his Syrian counterpart, Asaad Shibani. The council's creation had been initially agreed upon during Safadi's visit to Damascus on April 17. The inaugural session of the council was co-chaired by Safadiand Shibani and attended by ministers from both governments. From the Jordanian side, the meeting included Water and Irrigation Minister Raed Abu Saud, Industry, Trade and Supply Minister Yarub Qudah, Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Saleh Kharabsheh, and Transport Minister Wissam Tahtamouni. Representing Syria were Economy and Industry Minister Mohammad Shaar, Energy Minister Mohammad Bashir, and Transport Minister Yarub Badr. According to a statement from the Jordanian Foreign Ministry, both sides reaffirmed their commitment to constant cooperation and coordination, reflecting the 'historic brotherly ties' between the two nations. Discussions focused on strengthening cooperation across sectors to support Syria's reconstruction and transitional efforts. The council agreed on a practical roadmap targeting both short- and long-term goals aligned with mutual interests, the statement said. The roadmap includes plans to review and potentially amend the 1987 Yarmouk River agreement to ensure equitable water rights, along with reactivating joint water committees. Energy cooperation was also discussed, with talks focusing on supplying Syria with natural gas via Jordan, electric grid linkage, and sharing Jordan's renewable energy expertise. Both countries agreed to hold a ministerial-level meeting in July, followed by technical-level meetings to advance joint initiatives. Jordan also committed to sharing its experience in licensing electricity distribution companies, according to the statement. The Jordanian and Syrian ministers also discussed restarting the Jordan–Syria power grid connection, once Syrian infrastructure allows, and developing frameworks to strengthen the existing network. Syria was also offered access to Jordan's soon-to-be-operational liquefied natural gas terminal in Aqaba, as well as storage and transportation facilities for petroleum derivatives. The two sides plan to reconvene the Joint Ministerial Committee in July to discuss industrial integration, enhance trade and transit opportunities, and explore mutual recognition of product conformity certificates. A business forum and the reactivation of the Jordanian–Syrian Joint Business Council are also on the agenda. Syria welcomed an upcoming visit by a Jordanian economic delegation scheduled for next week, the statement said. The Joint Technical Committee for land transport will be reactivated to address overland transport issues, harmonise fees, discuss future railway links, and exchange expertise in transport regulation. According to the statement, technical teams will conduct reciprocal visits to implement the council's roadmap and follow up on the newly agreed cooperation mechanisms. © Copyright The Jordan Times. All rights reserved. Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (
Jordan Times
20-05-2025
- Business
- Jordan Times
Jordan, Syria sign MoU, agree on concrete steps to advance bilateral relations
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi (left) and Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Shibani sign a memorandum of understanding regarding the establishment and activation of the Higher Coordination Council (Photo courtesy of Foreign Ministry) AMMAN — Jordan and Syria on Tuesday signed a memorandum of understanding to establish and activate a Higher Coordination Council, marking a new phase in bilateral relations between the two neighbouring countries. The agreement was signed in Damascus by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Ayman Safadi and his Syrian counterpart, Asaad Shibani. The council's creation had been initially agreed upon during Safadi's visit to Damascus on April 17. The inaugural session of the council was co-chaired by Safadiand Shibani and attended by ministers from both governments. From the Jordanian side, the meeting included Water and Irrigation Minister Raed Abu Saud, Industry, Trade and Supply Minister Yarub Qudah, Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Saleh Kharabsheh, and Transport Minister Wissam Tahtamouni. Representing Syria were Economy and Industry Minister Mohammad Shaar, Energy Minister Mohammad Bashir, and Transport Minister Yarub Badr. According to a statement from the Jordanian Foreign Ministry, both sides reaffirmed their commitment to constant cooperation and coordination, reflecting the 'historic brotherly ties' between the two nations. Discussions focused on strengthening cooperation across sectors to support Syria's reconstruction and transitional efforts. The council agreed on a practical roadmap targeting both short- and long-term goals aligned with mutual interests, the statement said. The roadmap includes plans to review and potentially amend the 1987 Yarmouk River agreement to ensure equitable water rights, along with reactivating joint water committees. Energy cooperation was also discussed, with talks focusing on supplying Syria with natural gas via Jordan, electric grid linkage, and sharing Jordan's renewable energy expertise. Both countries agreed to hold a ministerial-level meeting in July, followed by technical-level meetings to advance joint initiatives. Jordan also committed to sharing its experience in licensing electricity distribution companies, according to the statement. The Jordanian and Syrian ministers also discussed restarting the Jordan–Syria power grid connection, once Syrian infrastructure allows, and developing frameworks to strengthen the existing network. Syria was also offered access to Jordan's soon-to-be-operational liquefied natural gas terminal in Aqaba, as well as storage and transportation facilities for petroleum derivatives. The two sides plan to reconvene the Joint Ministerial Committee in July to discuss industrial integration, enhance trade and transit opportunities, and explore mutual recognition of product conformity certificates. A business forum and the reactivation of the Jordanian–Syrian Joint Business Council are also on the agenda. Syria welcomed an upcoming visit by a Jordanian economic delegation scheduled for next week, the statement said. The Joint Technical Committee for land transport will be reactivated to address overland transport issues, harmonise fees, discuss future railway links, and exchange expertise in transport regulation. According to the statement, technical teams will conduct reciprocal visits to implement the council's roadmap and follow up on the newly agreed cooperation mechanisms.
BreakingNews.ie
13-05-2025
- Business
- BreakingNews.ie
Trump says US to lifts Syria sanctions, secures $600 billion Saudi deal
President Donald Trump announced on Tuesday that the U.S. will lift long-standing sanctions on Syria, and secured a $600 billion commitment from Saudi Arabia to invest in the United States on a trip to the Gulf. The US agreed to sell Saudi Arabia an arms package worth nearly $142 billion (€126 billion), according to the White House which called it "the largest defense cooperation agreement" Washington has ever done. Advertisement The surprise announcement about sanctions on Syria would be a huge boost for a country that has been shattered by more than a decade of civil war. Rebels led by current President Ahmed al-Sharaa toppled President Bashar al-Assad last December. Speaking in Riyadh, Trump said he was acting on a request to scrap the sanctions by Saudi Arabia's de facto ruler, Prince Mohammed bin Salman. "Oh what I do for the crown prince," Trump said, drawing laughs from the audience. He said the sanctions had served an important function but that it was now time for the country to move forward. The United States declared Syria a state sponsor of terrorism in 1979, added sanctions in 2004 and imposed further sanctions after the civil war broke out in 2011. Advertisement Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Shibani said on X that the planned move marked a "new start" in Syria's path to reconstruction. Trump has agreed to briefly greet Sharaa in Saudi Arabia on Wednesday, a White House official said. Trump and the Saudi crown prince signed an agreement covering energy, defense, mining and other areas. Trump has sought to strengthen relations with the Saudis to improve regional ties with Israel and act as a bulwark against Iran. The agreement covers deals with more than a dozen U.S. defense companies in areas including air and missile defense, air force and space advancement, maritime security and communications, the fact sheet said. The Saudi prince said the deal included investment opportunities worth $600 billion, including deals worth $300 billion that were signed during Trump's visit. "We will work in the coming months on the second phase to complete deals and raise it to $1 trillion," he said. Advertisement Saudi Arabia is one of the largest customers for US arms. Reuters reported in April the US was poised to offer the kingdom an arms package worth well over $100 billion. "I really believe we like each other a lot," Trump said during a meeting with the crown prince, Saudi Arabia's de facto ruler. The U.S. and Saudi Arabia had discussed Riyadh's potential purchase of Lockheed F-35 jets, two sources briefed on discussions told Reuters, referring to a military aircraft that the kingdom is long thought to have been interested in. Advertisement It was not immediately clear whether those aircraft were covered in the deal announced on Tuesday. Trump, who was accompanied by U.S. business leaders including billionaire Elon Musk, will go on from Riyadh to Qatar on Wednesday and the United Arab Emirates on Thursday. He has not scheduled a stop in Israel, a decision that has raised questions about where the close ally stands in Washington's priorities, and the focus of the trip is on investment rather than security matters in the Middle East. "While energy remains a cornerstone of our relationship, the investments and business opportunities in the kingdom have expanded and multiplied many, many times over," Saudi Investment Minister Khalid al-Falih said. Advertisement "As a result ... when Saudis and Americans join forces very good things happen, more often than not great things happen when those joint ventures happen," he said before Trump's arrival. Trump told the investment forum that relations with Saudi Arabia will be even stronger. He was shown speaking with Riyadh's sovereign wealth fund governor Yaser al-Rumayyan, Aramco CEO Amin Nasser, and Falih as he toured a hall that showed off models for the kingdom's flashy, multi-billion-dollar development projects. Trump called the Saudi crown prince a friend and said they have a good relationship, according to a pool report from the Wall Street Journal, adding that Saudi investment would help create jobs in the U.S. Business leaders at the investment forum included Larry Fink, the chief executive of asset management firm BlackRock; Stephen A. Schwartzman, chief executive of asset manager Blackstone; and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent. Musk chatted briefly with both Trump and the crown prince, who is otherwise known as MbS, during a palace reception for the U.S. president. Top U.S. businessmen including Musk, the Tesla and SpaceX chief, and OpenAI chief executive Sam Altman joined Trump for a lunch with MbS. MbS has focused on diversifying the Saudi economy in a major reform program dubbed Vision 2030 that includes "Giga-projects" such as NEOM, a futuristic city the size of Belgium. Oil generated 62 per cent of Saudi government revenue last year. The kingdom has scaled back some of its ambitions as rising costs and falling oil prices weigh. Saudi Arabia and the U.S. have maintained strong ties for decades based on an ironclad arrangement in which the kingdom delivers oil and the superpower provides security in exchange.
