Syria, Saudi Arabia expand partnership with defense cooperation agreement amid Houthi threat

The agreement between the countries’ defense ministries was signed during talks between al-Sharaa and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on November 4.

Syria and Saudi Arabia signed a defense cooperation agreement Wednesday during Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa’s visit to Riyadh, expanding their growing partnership as Saudi Arabia seeks regional military support against attacks by Yemen’s Houthi movement.

The agreement between the countries’ defense ministries was signed during talks between al-Sharaa and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on November 4. Neither government disclosed its provisions, leaving unanswered whether cooperation will involve military training, intelligence sharing, or operational assistance.

The agreement comes as Damascus considers a broader role in regional security arrangements.

Speaking at the Manama Dialogue conference earlier this month, Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani said his country was exploring participation in regional defense frameworks, including the Mecca Joint Defense Agreement between Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Pakistan.

“We will not stand by as a spectator in the face of any aggression against the Gulf states,” al-Shaibani said, emphasizing that Syria’s contribution would reflect its capabilities and international obligations.

Turkey votes to approve Mecca Joint Defense Agreement

In a related development, Turkey’s parliament voted 279-119 on Thursday to approve the Mecca agreement, which treats an armed attack against one member as an attack against all three. Syria has expressed interest in joining the arrangement, although its admission has not been agreed upon.

Reuters reported in October that Damascus was considering providing military assistance to Saudi Arabia as Houthi missile and drone attacks intensified. No deployment of Syrian forces has been announced, and the new bilateral agreement does not establish whether such assistance will be provided.

During Wednesday’s talks, al-Sharaa and bin Salman also discussed the regional escalation’s implications for maritime security, energy supplies, and the global economy. Both governments called for diplomatic efforts to reduce tensions and an end to activities threatening shipping in the Red Sea, Bab el Mandeb Strait, and Strait of Hormuz.

Over $400 million loaned from Saudi Fund for Development to Syria

The visit also produced six concessional loan agreements worth more than $403 million from the Saudi Fund for Development to support Syria’s reconstruction.

The financing includes $105 million for civil defense facilities, $100 million for healthcare infrastructure, and $90 million to rehabilitate generating units at the Aleppo Thermal Power Plant. Additional projects will support water services, damaged housing, and digital government systems.

Saudi Arabia has emerged as a major regional partner of Damascus since the overthrow of Bashar Assad in December 2024, supporting Syria’s diplomatic reintegration and economic recovery.

The latest agreement extends that relationship into defense cooperation, but the extent of Syria’s potential military involvement in Saudi Arabia’s confrontation with the Houthis remains unclear.