‘Normalization of Assad’ is objectively a positive thing for the world

Last week, Saudi Arabia invited Syria, long excluded from multilateral formats in West Asia, to the next rendition of the Arab League. This was followed on Monday with the United Arab Emirates inviting Syria to the COP28 climate summit at the end of this year, giving the embattled country international recognition once again. Predictably, Western countries are mind-blown over what they see as the “normalization” of a monstrous regime. However, what it really shows is that the West is no longer the biggest power player in the West Asia region and that Arab countries are taking the reins. For Saudi Arabia, this is part of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s vision of an integrated West Asia, with more business and less conflict, that will be the next Europe. He hopes to turn the Middle East into another pole in a multipolar world. That’s quite remarkable because he, as expert Joshua Landis masterfully put it, turned two losing hands with Yemen and Syria into a winning one. Saudi…