Dutch Prime Minister Jetten defends meeting with Syrian president Al-Sharaa at UN: "Talk to difficult partners"

After drawing criticism for meeting and posing for a photograph with Syria’s president Ahmed Hussein al-Sharaa at the United Nations General Assembly, Dutch Prime Minister Rob Jetten has defended the encounter as a necessary part of Dutch diplomacy. The meeting touched on issues ranging from Syria’s reconstruction and the return of refugees to human rights, but Jetten’s remarks also reveal how far European capitals are willing to go in rebuilding ties with Damascus after years of isolation.