Saudi Arabia inks first defense ‘cooperation’ agreement with Syria’s new leadership

BEIRUT — The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has signed its first defense agreement with Syria since the fall of Bashar Assad in Damascus, a step that experts said would likely strengthen the Syrian army’s capabilities.

The agreement “on cooperation between the two countries’ defense ministries” was inked, among other government cooperation agreements, on Wednesday during Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa’s visit to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia’s official press agency said.

Details of the agreement were not disclosed, but experts told Breaking Defense that the move is evidence of growing ties between the two countries. It also highlights a geopolitical reversal in the region, with Al-Sharaa moving closer to Riyadh after years of Syrian allegiance to Saudi rival Iran under Assad.

“The agreement marks another step in Syria’s growing political, economic and military alignment with Saudi Arabia, as Damascus seeks to rebuild its armed forces and strengthen its regional partnerships,” RANE Lead MENA and defense Analyst Freddy Khoueiry told Breaking Defense.

Serhat Süha Çubukçuoğlu, director of the Turkey program at TRENDS Research & Advisory, agreed with Khoueiry, adding that the agreement is “part of Saudi diplomatic, and economic outreach to court Syria and keep it in its sphere of influence.”

The signing comes as Syrian army is trying to rebuild its capabilities after a 14-year civil war that ended in December 2024 with the overthrow of the Assad regime, and as Damascus eyes to end all foreign military presence on its soil.

“The agreement will likely initially focus on military training, intelligence sharing, equipment transfers and assistance in rebuilding Syria’s armed forces,” Khoueiry said.

He added that “over time” the agreement could “pave the way for more direct military cooperation, potentially including Syrian personnel supporting Saudi operations in Yemen” against the Iran-backed Houthi militant group there. Such a step, he cautioned however, “remains speculative and unlikely in the near term.”

And while Syrian foreign minister Asaad al-Shaibani announced last week that Damascus is weighing joining the Saudi-Pakistani-Turkish defense alliance dubbed as Mecca Pact, neither expert viewed the new bilateral announcement necessarily as a step in that direction.

Khoueiry highlighted that the ties between Damscus and Riyadh are already growing, but he didn’t rule out the possibility of Syria joining the Mecca Pact.

“Syria could potentially join by early 2027, although this would depend on negotiations with existing members and Damascus’s willingness to assume the pact’s collective defense obligations, alongside other strategic considerations,” he told Breaking Defense.

Çubukçuoğlu was more hesitant about the possibility, especially since the pact has “a NATO Article 5-type agreement and attack on one is considered attack on all.”

A further complication, he said, was Israeli military operations in Syria, including the occupation of southern Syrian territory. Khoueiry mentioned the perceived Israeli threat as another reason Damascus would strengthen ties with Riyadh, but Çubukçuoğlu said the potential for a fight with Israel could neuter Mecca Pact negotiations.

“I think that’s inconceivable at this point [any] of these countries will enter into a war with Israel to liberate territory,” he concluded.