Politics
The Syrian president's brother denies having an office in Damascus
The Syrian president's brother denies having an office in Damascus amid sensational Western reports about an Idlib meeting and officials being reprimanded for their exorbitant wealth.
Syrian denial of Western reports about the Idlib meeting
In a new development on the Syrian scene, official sources in Damascus denied reports published by Western media outlets about an alleged meeting of Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa in Idlib province. According to these reports, the meeting involved reprimanding a number of officials for their displays of extravagant wealth and luxury cars.
Official reactions
Jamal al-Sharaa, the brother of the Syrian president, issued a statement denying that he has a business office in Damascus or that he has held any meetings with businessmen or officials. He described these reports as “fabrications and distortions of the facts.”.
For his part, Ahmed Muhammad Deeb Ta'meh, the director of political affairs in rural Damascus, asserted that the information contained in the Western report was "false." He clarified in a post on the X platform that the president did not address the issue of luxury cars during the meeting, which he attended in its entirety.
Testimonials from attendees
Hussein al-Masri, the former communications minister who also attended the meeting, described the reports about the encounter as “far from the truth.” In a post on his Facebook page, he indicated that the meeting was lengthy and positive, and included general directives concerning the situation in Syria.
Al-Masri added that the meeting addressed directives not to crowd out investors, the formation of a committee to follow up on this issue, and an inventory of the assets and funds of officials.
Clarification from the Syrian Ministry of Information
The Syrian Ministry of Information described the meeting that took place in Idlib as “friendly and informal,” noting that it addressed political and security challenges and the need to change the investment culture established by the previous regime.
Western reports and the stance of eyewitnesses
Western media outlets reported that President al-Sharaa reprimanded several officials during a meeting held on August 30th, which was attended by high-ranking security officials. They quoted eyewitnesses who were present at the meeting as saying that al-Sharaa ordered civil servants who owned luxury cars to hand over the keys immediately or face investigations into illicit gains.
This discrepancy between official narratives and Western reports reflects the complexities of the political and media landscape surrounding Syria. The question remains open regarding the accuracy of these reports and their purpose amidst the tense atmosphere prevailing in the region.
Politics
German Chancellor arrives in Riyadh: Details of the visit and the future of relations
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz arrived in Riyadh today on an official visit. Learn about the details of the reception and the importance of the visit in strengthening the economic partnership between Saudi Arabia and Germany.
The Federal Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany, Mr. Friedrich Merz, arrived in the Saudi capital, Riyadh, today, accompanied by a high-level delegation, at the start of an official visit to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia aimed at discussing ways to enhance joint cooperation between the two friendly countries.
Official welcoming ceremony at King Khalid International Airport
Among those who welcomed the German Chancellor upon his arrival at King Khalid International Airport were His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Abdulaziz, Deputy Governor of Riyadh Region, and His Highness Prince Faisal bin Abdulaziz bin Ayyaf, Mayor of Riyadh. His Excellency the Minister of Finance, Mr. Mohammed Al-Jadaan (the accompanying minister), also participated in the welcoming ceremony, reflecting the economic importance of this visit.
The reception delegation also included the Acting Chargé d'Affaires at the Kingdom’s Embassy in Germany, Mr. Fahd Al-Hathal, the Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany to the Kingdom, Mr. Michael Kindsgrab, His Excellency the Acting Director of Riyadh Region Police, Major General Mansour bin Nasser Al-Otaibi, and His Excellency the Undersecretary of Royal Protocol, Mr. Fahd Al-Sahil.
Dimensions of the visit and the future of Saudi-German relations
The German Chancellor’s visit to Riyadh is of great importance in light of current international changes, as Germany is the Kingdom’s largest economic partner in Europe, while Saudi Arabia represents a pivotal political and economic force in the Middle East and the G20.
The presence of Finance Minister Mohammed Al-Jadaan as an accompanying minister to the German guest indicates that economic and investment issues will top the agenda of the talks. Through its Vision 2030, the Kingdom seeks to deepen partnerships with major industrial nations like Germany, particularly in the renewable energy, green hydrogen, technology, and manufacturing sectors, where German companies possess extensive expertise that can contribute to accelerating development and economic diversification in the Kingdom.
This visit comes as an extension of a long history of diplomatic and economic relations between Riyadh and Berlin. The talks are expected to address regional and international issues of common interest, which will enhance the prospects for peace and stability in the region, in addition to exploring opportunities to increase trade and open new horizons for mutual investments between the private sectors in both countries.
Politics
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz arrives in Riyadh: Details of the official visit
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz arrived in Riyadh today on an official visit. Learn about the details of the official reception and the importance of the visit in strengthening Saudi-German relations.
The Federal Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany, Friedrich Merz, arrived in the Saudi capital, Riyadh, today, accompanied by a high-level delegation, on an official visit to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia aimed at discussing ways to enhance joint cooperation between the two friendly countries in various fields.
Among those who welcomed the German Chancellor upon his arrival at King Khalid International Airport were His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Abdulaziz, Deputy Governor of Riyadh Region, and His Highness Prince Faisal bin Abdulaziz bin Ayyaf, Mayor of Riyadh. Also present were the Minister of Finance, Mr. Mohammed bin Abdullah Al-Jadaan (the accompanying minister), the Chargé d'Affaires of the Saudi Embassy in Germany, Mr. Fahd Al-Hathal, the Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany to the Kingdom, Mr. Michael Kindsgrapp, the Acting Director of Riyadh Region Police, Major General Mansour bin Nasser Al-Otaibi, and the Deputy Chief of Royal Protocol, Mr. Fahd Al-Sahil.
Dimensions of the visit and its strategic importance
This visit is of paramount importance in both its timing and substance, as it comes within the framework of the strong historical ties that bind the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Federal Republic of Germany. Germany is a key economic and trade partner for the Kingdom in Europe, and both sides continuously strive to develop these relations and propel them towards broader horizons in a way that serves the interests of both friendly nations.
The presence of Finance Minister Mohammed Al-Jadaan as an accompanying minister underscores the significant economic focus of this visit, with economic and investment matters expected to top the agenda. In line with Vision 2030, the Kingdom seeks to strengthen partnerships with leading German companies, particularly in the technology, renewable energy, manufacturing, and infrastructure sectors, where Germany possesses extensive global expertise.
Cooperation in the fields of energy and the future
The energy sector, particularly clean energy and green hydrogen, is a cornerstone of the modern cooperation between Riyadh and Berlin. The Kingdom aims to become the primary supplier of green hydrogen to Europe, and Germany is considered a promising and pivotal market in this regard, given its focus on energy transition. The visit is likely to include in-depth discussions on how to activate previous agreements and accelerate joint efforts to address global climate challenges.
In addition to the economic aspect, political consultations play a pivotal role in such high-level visits, as the Kingdom and Germany are key pillars of stability in their respective regions. It is expected that views will be exchanged on regional and international issues of common interest, and ways to enhance international peace and security will be discussed, reflecting the depth of political and diplomatic coordination between the two leaderships.
Politics
Xi and Trump's 2026 phone call: Discussions on relations and a potential visit to China
Details of the call between Xi Jinping and Donald Trump on strengthening relations in 2026, discussing trade, Taiwan, Ukraine, and oil, with the announcement of a Trump visit in April.
In a significant diplomatic move aimed at reshaping relations between the world's two largest economies, Chinese President Xi Jinping held a strategic phone call with his US counterpart Donald Trump on Wednesday. The talks focused on the need to resolve outstanding issues between the two countries in an atmosphere of mutual respect, reflecting a shared desire to ease geopolitical and economic tensions.
China's vision for 2026: Building trust and peaceful coexistence
During the call, the Chinese president emphasized the importance of a step-by-step approach to resolving differences, stating that "by addressing issues one by one and continuing to build mutual trust, we can find the right path for harmony between our two countries." Xi expressed his hope that 2026 would be a pivotal year in which China and the United States, as two major powers, move forward in promoting mutual respect, peaceful coexistence, and mutually beneficial cooperation, rather than conflict and zero-sum competition.
Trump praises the call and sets a date for his visit to China
For his part, US President Donald Trump described the call as "excellent," emphasizing that the US relationship with China, and his personal relationship with his Chinese counterpart, are excellent. Trump revealed that they discussed several sensitive and important topics during the call, including trade and defense, and announced a planned visit to China in April, a strong indication of the two sides' commitment to strengthening direct dialogue.
Controversial issues on the research table
The call went beyond mere diplomatic pleasantries, delving into complex global issues. The two leaders discussed the situation in Taiwan, developments in the war between Russia and Ukraine, and the situation in Iran. In the context of economic and energy cooperation, they addressed China's potential purchase of oil and gas from the United States, a move that could help reduce the trade deficit and strengthen shared economic interests.
The context of relationships and the importance of timing
This call comes at a time of major global shifts, as international markets and the global community look to the stability of US-China relations as a cornerstone of global stability. Historically, relations between Washington and Beijing have been characterized by periods of both progress and setbacks, particularly concerning trade wars and security issues in the Pacific. Therefore, the talk of "mutual respect" and "peaceful coexistence" in 2026 represents a positive development that could spare the world the repercussions of great power conflicts.
The agreement to discuss issues as significant as the Russian-Ukrainian war and the Iranian nuclear program indicates that both sides recognize their international responsibilities and that sustainable solutions to global crises require a minimum level of coordination between Washington and Beijing. Political circles are awaiting the planned April visit to translate these telephone understandings into concrete agreements on the ground.
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