Is the World Warming up to Syrian Leader Bashar al-Assad?

By:  Arab Digest

Syrian President Assad's invitation to COP 28 in UAE signals his return despite his brutal civil war and its consequences.

Assad's attendance at Arab League summit in Jeddah marks his comeback after being shunned since Syria's suspension in 2011.

SANA showcased Assad's political win, publishing images of him reading UAE's invitation, highlighting an inclusive approach at COP 28.

UAE engages Syria for political and regional reasons, considering the impact of climate change and water scarcity in MENA.

Experts link drought-induced collapse of Syria's agricultural economy and mass migration to urban centers to the 2011 Arab Spring rebellion.

Assad's violent response to peaceful protests sparked a protracted civil war in Syria since March 2011, persisting till now.

Water scarcity fuels conflicts between refugee host countries and locals, especially in Jordan and Lebanon, worsened by political crises.

Gulf countries, benefiting from high oil prices, can withstand climate change impacts and invest in desalination projects for water security.