Western and Arab leaders gather in Riyadh for talks on lifting sanctions on Syria

Saudi Arabia is calling for sanctions on Syria to be lifted, aiming to expand its influence in the region. This follows the ousting of Bashar al-Assad last month by Islamist-led rebels, with new leader Ahmed al-Sharaa advocating for sanctions relief. Western and Middle Eastern diplomats are set to discuss this issue, including a meeting of European foreign ministers in Brussels on January 27. While Saudi Arabia's ambitions are a key driver, other regional factors, such as Turkey's role, may also influence the discussions.