Egypt has received indications that Syria’s President Ahmed Al-Sharaa will attend an emergency Arab summit in Cairo later this month, diplomatic sources have told our Arabic edition Al-Araby Al-Jadeed.
The summit, scheduled for 27 February, has been called by Egypt to discuss the crisis in Gaza and counter Israeli and US plans to displace Palestinians from the besieged territory.
According to the sources, Egyptian officials are also working to arrange a meeting between President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi and Al-Sharaa on the summit’s sidelines.
Al-Sharaa’s attendance at the Cairo summit is widely viewed as a step towards Syria’s reintegration into the Arab diplomatic fold. Political analysts suggest his participation signals growing acceptance of Syria’s new leadership among key regional players, including Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Qatar.
“This is the beginning of Syria reclaiming its role in the Arab world,” political analyst Moayad Ghazlan told Al-Araby Al-Jadeed. “It reflects a broad consensus among major Arab states on legitimising Syria’s new government.”
Syria under Bashar al-Assad was suspended from the Arab League in 2011 following its refusal to cooperate with regional efforts to resolve the country’s civil war. While the previous regime regained Syria’s seat in 2023, it failed to meet Arab demands for a political resolution before its collapse last December.
Observers believe the summit could serve as a platform for securing Arab investment in Syria’s post-conflict reconstruction.
The Egyptian foreign ministry confirmed on Sunday that Cairo will host the emergency summit, a move widely seen as an attempt to coordinate a unified Arab response to Donald Trump’s ethnic cleansing proposal for Gaza.
Egypt has long expressed concerns about Syria’s role in regional security. Sources say these concerns were discussed in a recent closed-door meeting in Ankara between Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty and his Syrian counterpart, Asaad Al-Shaibani. The meeting, also attended by Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, reportedly resulted in an understanding that Syria would not be used as a base for threats to neighbouring countries.
Egyptian authorities are particularly wary of reports that Egyptian nationals have joined armed groups in Syria. They are also monitoring the presence of Egyptian opposition figures in the country, including Mahmoud Fathy, who has been sentenced to prison by the Egyptian judiciary.
President Sisi recently congratulated Al-Sharaa on his appointment, expressing hope that he would “achieve the aspirations of the Syrian people”.
Syria and the Israeli invasion in the south
Al-Sharaa is also expected to use the summit to rally Arab support against Israeli actions in southern Syria, where Israel has intensified airstrikes and expanded its military presence following the collapse of Bashar Al-Assad’s regime.
Since Assad’s fall, Israeli airstrikes have targeted military infrastructure across Syria, including weapons stockpiles, research facilities, and military bases. Damascus is likely to push for Arab condemnation of what it describes as Israel’s “escalating aggression”.
Political analyst Ahmed Al-Qurbi told Al-Araby Al-Jadeed that the issue could be added to the summit agenda at Syria’s request. “Damascus is seeking at least a show of Arab solidarity, if not outright diplomatic pressure against Israeli actions,” he said.
The Cairo summit could also signal a thaw in relations between Egypt and Syria’s new leadership. “The invitation to President Al-Sharaa represents the first step towards breaking the ice between Cairo and Damascus,” Al-Qurbi added.
Analysts suggest that Al-Sharaa’s participation will further cement the legitimacy of his administration, which is seeking wider international recognition. His presence at the summit could serve as a prelude to Syria reclaiming its seat at the United Nations as the country’s official representative.
Political expert Bassam Al-Suleiman said the summit offers a chance for Al-Sharaa to meet influential Arab leaders, particularly from Egypt. “There is growing openness towards the new Syrian administration in the Levant, but African Arab nations remain hesitant. This summit is an opportunity to bridge that gap,” he said.
In a move that signals Syria’s efforts to strengthen ties with the Arab world, Al-Sharaa made his first official foreign visit to Saudi Arabia on 2 February. Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Asaad Al-Shaibani has visited Doha, Riyadh, and Abu Dhabi, underscoring Syria’s intent to rebuild diplomatic relations across the region.
