Saudi Arabia To Pay Off Syria's World Bank Debt

Saudi Arabia plans to pay Syria's World Bank debt, enabling millions of dollars in reconstruction grants. This move addresses Syria's foreign currency shortage and aims to support its crippled public sector. A previous plan to utilize frozen assets failed. The World Bank may fund infrastructure rebuilding, focusing on the damaged power grid. Syria's delegation will attend World Bank and IMF meetings in Washington. The Syrian government seeks sanctions relief after some sanctions were lifted by the UK, EU, and partially by the US. The US imposed conditions for further relief, including chemical weapons destruction and counter-terrorism cooperation. Syria's recent actions, including massacres and incorporating militants into the army, raise concerns. Syria's World Bank debt is approximately $15 million, a prerequisite for receiving assistance. The UN predicts a long recovery, estimating it may take until 2080. Qatar is aiding Syria's energy sector, but the government's extremism worries some nations. European envoys emphasized that international support hinges on addressing extremism within Syria.