Syrian President Ahmad Al Shara and Iraqi Prime Minister Ali Al Zaidi meeting in New York. Iraqi Prime Minister’s Office
Syrian President Ahmad Al Shara and Iraqi Prime Minister Ali Al Zaidi held their first meeting at the UN General Assembly in New York, as Baghdad and Damascus reset ties.
The relationship between the two countries has turned in recent months from deep mistrust to pragmatic co-operation after Bashar Al Assad was ousted in late 2024. The start of the Iran war in February, rising regional tension and US pressure have pushed the two countries towards boosting ties.
“The meeting addressed Syrian-Iraqi relations, explored ways to enhance political and security co-ordination between the two countries, and expanded economic and trade co-operation,” state-run Syrian news agency Sana said about the meeting.
The Iraqi Prime Minister’s office release a similar statement. “The meeting witnessed a review of the general situation regionally and internationally, discussions on bilateral relations and ways to develop them in accordance with the requirements of mutual interests across various levels and fields,” it said.
