The trip by President Bashar al-Assad of Syria, his first to China since 2004, may bolster Beijing’s efforts to expand its influence in the Middle East.
Under a previous arrangement, the U.N. and other aid agencies had Security Council approval to deliver humanitarian aid to Syria’s northern areas. That agreement, in place since 2014, fell apart two days ago.
President Bashar al-Assad was shunned over atrocities committed in Syria’s civil war, but on Friday he is expected to join an annual summit of Arab leaders for the first time in 13 years.
The strategically important country in northeastern Africa has been consumed by turmoil after overthrowing a dictator in 2019, with plans for a civilian-led democracy now in shambles.
President Bashar al-Assad of Syria was isolated for years after brutally crushing his country’s Arab Spring uprising. But in most Arab capitals today, the only question is how — not whether — they should deal with him again.