Syrian Foreign Minister Advocates for Eased US Sanctions During Doha Visit

The recent official visit of Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Hassan al-Shaibani to Qatar has marked a significant development in Syria's efforts to seek support from Arab states. Al-Shaibani's visit, which took place on January 5, was accompanied by Defense Minister Murhaf Abu Qasra and intelligence chief Anas Khattab, and marked the first official visit to Qatar by officials of Syria's new administration since the fall of the Bashar Assad regime last month. During the visit, al-Shaibani met with Qatar's Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani and other senior Qatari officials, including Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Mohammed Al-Khulaifi. The visit is part of a regional trip aimed at seeking support from Arab states, and is expected to also include visits to the United Arab Emirates and Jordan this week. Al-Shaibani has emphasized that US sanctions on Syria are an obstacle to rapid recovery, while Qatar's Foreign Ministry has stated that the sanctions are against the Syrian people, rather than the Syrian government. The visit highlights the complexities of Syria's relations with the international community, and the challenges that the new administration faces in seeking support and aid from other countries.