Saudi To Resume Diplomatic Relations w/Syria In Further Blow To US

Reuters reporting that according to unnamed sources, Saudi Arabia and Syria are set to resume diplomatic relations more than 10 years after Riyadh closed its embassy in Damascus and expelled the Syrian ambassador. The development comes shortly after Iran and Saudi announced the resumption of diplomatic ties following Chinese-brokered talks.

• Iran has been a long-standing ally of the regime of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, with the Saudi gov't providing weaponry to Syrian rebel forces during the country's long-running civil war.
• The US remains a vocal opponent of Assad (who also maintains close links with Russia), and the resumption of Saudi-Syria ties will be viewed as a further sign of waning US diplomatic influence in the Middle East.
• The move could prove a stepping stone to Syria resuming a place in the Arab League, following its expulsion in 2011 due to the brutal crackdown on anti-gov't protesters in 2011. Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud said in early March that engagement could lead, "...eventually to Syria returning to the Arab League et cetera. But for now, I think it's too early to discuss,"