Ahmed al-Shara, Syria’s New Interim President, Travels to Saudi Arabia

Syria’s newly appointed interim president, Ahmed al-Shara, arrived in Saudi Arabia on Sunday for his first foreign trip since his rebel coalition ousted the longtime dictator Bashar al-Assad, saying his country seeks a real partnership with the Gulf kingdom.

Mr. al-Shara landed at the airport in Riyadh, the Saudi capital, early Sunday afternoon. The new flag of Syria flew alongside the Saudi flag at the airport. Mr. al-Shara later met with the oil-rich kingdom’s crown prince, Mohammed bin Salman, according to Syrian and Saudi state news media.

The choice of Saudi Arabia for Mr. al-Shara’s first trip abroad was seen as a reflection of Syria’s shifting political alignments under the country’s new leadership: away from Iran, which was a key ally to the Assad regime, and toward the Gulf.

Mr. al-Shara said after his meeting with Prince Mohammed that he had “sensed and heard a genuine desire” to support Syria during its next phase of rebuilding, according to a statement from his office published by state news media.

The two men held “extensive discussions” about a variety of topics, including on increasing communication and cooperation in “all areas, especially humanitarian and economic,” the statement added.

Prince Mohammed wished Mr. al-Shara “success and guidance” in his new role as interim president, according to a separate statement from the royal court.