Syrian President Ahmad Al Shara and Iraqi Prime Minister Ali Al Zaidi Forge New Ties in Historic UN Meeting

Syrian President Ahmad Al Shara and Iraqi Prime Minister Ali Al Zaidi held their historic first meeting at the UN General Assembly in New York, marking a major turning point in bilateral relations between Baghdad and Damascus. Following the ousting of Bashar Al Assad in late 2024, the relationship has rapidly evolved from deep mistrust into pragmatic co-operation, spurred by regional tensions, the onset of the Iran war in February, and pressure from the United States.

According to the state-run Syrian news agency Sana, the discussions focused on enhancing political and security co-ordination alongside expanding trade and economic partnerships. A parallel statement issued by the Iraqi Prime Minister's office highlighted that both leaders reviewed the broader regional and international landscape to advance mutual interests across multiple fields.

The encounter drew strong praise from Tom Barrack, the US special envoy to both Syria and Iraq, who commended the vision of both leaders in fostering stability and shared prosperity. The choice of New York as the meeting location underscored Washington's diplomatic push, coinciding with an assembly hosted by US President Donald Trump involving several Middle East leaders working toward regional de-escalation.

Iraq faces mounting US pressure to curb its ties with Tehran, especially as US-led forces prepare for a complete withdrawal by the end of the month. Prime Minister Ali Al Zaidi is currently overseeing the complex disarmament of militia groups to bring all weaponry under state control, with a newly established time frame extending the completion target to June 2027.

Security co-operation has served as the primary catalyst for the renewed diplomatic alignment. Thousands of suspected ISIS members have been transferred from Syria to Iraq, while both nations navigate shared concerns regarding Iranian influence and border security challenges involving ISIS remnants and drug trafficking networks. Additionally, the disruptions to energy shipments through the Strait of Hormuz since March have prompted Iraq to utilize Syria as an alternative overland route for exporting oil from the Baniyas port starting in April.