Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa met with Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi on Tuesday on the sidelines of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, with the two leaders discussing ways to strengthen bilateral relations and regional cooperation.
According to Syria’s official news agency, SANA, the meeting focused on strengthening coordination and cooperation between Syria and Iraq, with particular attention to political and security issues as well as economic and trade relations.
The talks come as both countries continue to engage with broader regional developments and seek greater coordination on issues affecting their shared interests.
SANA reported on Wednesday that the discussions covered Syrian-Iraqi relations and explored ways to enhance political and security coordination between the neighboring countries. The two sides also discussed opportunities to expand economic and trade cooperation.
The office of the Iraqi prime minister provided a broader account of the meeting, saying that the discussions included regional and international developments, bilateral relations and ways of developing cooperation between Baghdad and Damascus.
According to the statement from the Iraqi prime minister’s office, the leaders also discussed efforts aimed at supporting de-escalation and reducing tensions across the region.
The meeting provided an opportunity for the Syrian and Iraqi governments to exchange views on regional developments while considering ways to strengthen communication and coordination between their respective institutions.
Syria-US Discussions
The Syrian president also held a separate meeting Tuesday with Tom Barrack, the US presidential envoy to Syria and Iraq.
SANA reported that Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani attended the meeting alongside Sharaa and Barrack. The Syrian news agency did not provide details about the issues discussed or the specific outcomes of the talks.
The meeting with the US envoy came as Sharaa continued a series of diplomatic engagements during his participation in the UN General Assembly session in New York.
The discussions with Barrack added another dimension to Sharaa’s diplomatic meetings during the high-level UN gathering, where regional security and political developments are among the major issues being discussed by world leaders and senior officials.
Sharaa to Address UN General Assembly
Sharaa is scheduled to deliver Syria’s address to the UN General Assembly on Wednesday.
The appearance comes during the high-level segment of the 81st session, which brings together world leaders and senior government officials for discussions on international and regional issues.
The high-level meetings and general debate began Tuesday, according to the United Nations’ official programme, with the session scheduled to continue through Sept. 28.
For Syria, Sharaa’s participation provides an opportunity for the country to present its positions directly before the international community while holding bilateral discussions with regional and international officials on the sidelines of the General Assembly.
His meetings with the Iraqi prime minister and the US presidential envoy form part of those diplomatic engagements.
Focus on Regional Stability
The discussions between Sharaa and Zaidi placed particular emphasis on political and security coordination and efforts to reduce regional tensions.
Syria and Iraq share a border and have overlapping security and economic interests, making developments in either country relevant to the other. Their discussions in New York therefore covered both bilateral relations and wider regional issues.
The Iraqi side said the meeting addressed efforts to support de-escalation, while Syria’s official account highlighted the importance of strengthening political and security coordination.
The two governments also expressed interest in developing economic and trade cooperation, indicating that their bilateral agenda extends beyond security concerns.
The talks demonstrate the importance both sides place on maintaining communication at the leadership level as they address regional developments and seek to strengthen bilateral relations.
With the UN General Assembly continuing through Sept. 28, further diplomatic meetings are expected to take place in New York as participating countries discuss regional conflicts, international security, economic cooperation and other global issues.
For Syria, Sharaa’s planned address to the General Assembly will be a central part of the country’s participation in the session, following his meetings with Iraqi and US officials on the sidelines of the gathering.
