On 26 February 2023, Bashar al-Assad met with Iraqi, Jordanian, Palestinian, Libyan, Egyptian and Emirati lawmakers, as well as representatives from Oman and Lebanon after more than a decade of isolation in the region. Arab states contributed significantly to the relief effort after the 2023 Turkey–Syria earthquake. A week before, Al-Assad travelled to Oman for his first foreign visit since the quake.[33]Syrian–Turkish normalization was also underway since 2022, but it ended with the overthrow of the Ba'athist regime by pro-Turkish opposition forces.
Since the fall of the Assad regime in 2024, it is unclear whether the new transitional government retained all of Ba'athist Syria's diplomatic relations. However, Turkey became the first country to re-establish diplomatic relations with post-Assad Syria, doing so on 14 December 2024.[34] In December 2024, Qatar reestablished diplomatic relations with Syria.[35]
Diplomatic relations
List of countries which Syria maintains diplomatic relations with:
Both countries established diplomatic relations on 10 February 1999.[166]
In 2021, Faisal Mekdad, Foreign and Expatriates Minister, met with Minister of Foreign Affairs of Angola, Tete António, within the framework of the High-Level Meeting to Commemorate the 60th Anniversary of the First Conference of the Non-Aligned Movement.[167]
Both countries established diplomatic relations on 29 November 1964.[168]
In 2017, President Bashar al-Assad received on Thursday a cable of congratulation from President of Cameroon Paul Biya on occasion of Syria's Independence Day.[170]
In June 2013 Egypt's president Mohammed Morsi announced he would cut all relations with the Syrian government.[172] Under Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, however, Egypt has taken a more supportive stance towards Syria's government. In 2017, for example, Egypt called for Syria's re-admittance to the Arab League.[173]
On 10 October 2011, Libya became the first country to recognise the Syrian National Council as "the sole legitimate government in Syria".
NTC also ordered the Syrian Embassy in Tripoli to be shuttered until further notice.[178] They also promised the representatives of SNC to hand them over the embassy of Syria in Tripoli.[179]
Both countries established diplomatic relations on 13 December 1964.[86]
President Hafez al-Assad and President Siad Barre had a positive relationship despite Somalia's very strong economic and military ties to Syria's then-geopolitical rival, Iraq. Syria also provided limited intelligence and logistics support to Somalia during the Ogaden War despite the Soviet-Syrian special relationship.[192]
Both countries established diplomatic relations on 28 January 1957, when Ambassador of Syria to Sudan (resident in Cairo) Mr. Abdel Rahman El Azm was accredited.[79]
On 16 December 2018, Sudanese President, Omar al-Bashir, became the first Arab League member to visit Syria since the eruption of Syrian civil war in 2011.[201]
Tunisia ceased to recognise the government of Syria on 4 February 2012. During his tenure, Hamadi Jebali, the Prime Minister, called on fellow Arab states to follow its lead: "We have to expel the Syrian ambassadors from Arab countries."[205]
In 2019, France24 speculated that new president Kais Saied could renew his country's diplomatic relations with Syria.[206]
Following the 2023 Turkey–Syria earthquake, President Saied decided to strengthen diplomatic ties with Syria to the ambassador level.[207]
In April 2023, Syria officially re-established diplomatic relations with Tunisia.[208]
Syria is accredited to Zimbabwe from its embassy in Pretoria.
On 1 June 2014, chairperson of the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Foreign Affairs Cde Enock Porusingazi said that Zimbabwe stood in solidarity with Syria and its people, supporting their government.[210]
Both countries established diplomatic relations on 4 September 2023.[164]
Syria is accredited to Bolivia from its embassy in Santiago.
In 2019, Dr. Bouthaina Shaaban, the presidential advisor, held a meeting with Bolivian Minister of Foreign Affairs Diego Pary Rodríguez. The two sides stressed the importance of friendly relations between Syria and Bolivia and mutual cooperation.[213]
The Syrian Embassy in Ottawa was closed on 29 May 2012.[243]
Syrian consulate in Montreal was closed in 2016.[244] Syria has an honorary consulate in Vancouver.
Since the beginning of the Syrian War, over 40,000 Syrian refugees have re-settled in Canada.[245]
Canada has announced plans to ease sanctions against Syria and names its ambassador to Lebanon to serve in a parallel role in Syria on 13 March 2025.[246]
Paraguay has an honorary consulate in Damascus since July 2022.[260]
In July 2022, the President of the Senate of Paraguay, Óscar Rubén Salomón, made an official state visit to Syria, which Syrian state media said had the aim of establishing political, economic, commercial, parliamentary and other relations.[261]
The delegation was received by the highest constitutional officials of Syria, including Bashar al Assad, Hussein Arnous and Hammouda Sabbagh.[262]
Both countries established diplomatic relations on 16 August 1975.[117]
Syria is accredited to Peru from its embassy in Santiago.
In 2023, the Syrian Foreign Ministry has expressed solidarity and condolences to the relatives of the victims of an Guayas earthquake that shook a coastal region of northern Peru.[263]
Both countries established diplomatic relations on 11 January 1972 when was accredited first Ambassador of Syrian Arab Republic (resident in Caracas) Mr. Bachir El Kotb.[105]
Both countries established diplomatic relations on 17 November 1944.[266]
While relations between the two states have long since been tense, the two have maintained diplomatic exchanges. However, relations took an ominous turn in October 2008 with a cross-border raid during the Iraq War to ostensibly fend off the rise of allegedly foreign militants into the Iraq fighting for the Iraqi resistance.
In December 2012, US president Barack Obama announced the US would formally recognise the Syrian Opposition Coalition, rather than the Damascus government, as the legitimate representative of the Syrian people. As of 2023[update], the embassy of the United States is suspended due to the Syrian civil war.[267] In May 2014, the US announced it recognised the opposition Syrian National Coalition's US offices as an official "foreign mission".[268]
On 21 August 2013, the United States has threatened to strike key Syrian chemical and biological weapons installations in response to a chemical attack that was allegedly carried out by forces loyal to Assad on the rebel stronghold of Ghouta within the capital Damascus. Assad had denied any involvement, however President Obama claims to have intelligence proving otherwise. No proof has been given to the public other than reports from key United States senators and representatives. As of 4 September 2013, the Committee on Foreign Relations approved an attack with a 10–7 vote.
President Trump on 6 April 2017, ordered the first U.S. airstrike on the Syrian air force since the country's civil war began in 2011. US Navy warships USS Porter and USS Ross in the Mediterranean Sea launched dozens of Tomahawk missiles at Syria's Shayrat air base. The strikes were in reaction to what Washington says was a sarin poison gas attack by the government of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad that killed at least 70 people in the Idlib region of Syria. U.S. officials informed Russian forces ahead of the missile strikes, which Russian military were in Syria actively supporting and assisting al-Assad during Syria's civil war, and US air strikes avoided hitting Russian personnel. Trump, who authorized the launch of 59 Tomahawk missiles from Navy warships in the Mediterranean Sea on an air base near Homs were in direct response to Bashar al-Assad's alleged use of chemical weapons in the town of Khan Shaykhun on 4 April 2017. Following airstrikes were conducted on 8 April 2017, on the Syrian city that was the site of chemical weapons attack earlier.
On 7 October 2019, the President of the United States ordered the withdrawal of US military troops stationed on the Syrian-Turkey border. This withdrawal of military support was ordered by the President with disapproval of the Pentagon and the US Intelligence community. The US president ordered the withdrawal of military troops under the premise that Turkey would not invade the region being held by Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF); however Turkey attacked the SDF within 24 hours of US military withdrawal from the region.[269]
Both countries established diplomatic relations on 11 October 1946.[53]
Syria is accredited to Uruguay from its embassy in Buenos Aires.[270]
In 2019, Dr. Faisal Mekdad received a senior military delegation headed by Armed Forces of UruguayArmy Chief of Staff, Major General Marcelo Montaner. Both talked about preparations held by Uruguay to dispatch a military unit within the frame of the UNDOF in Golan.[228]
Syria's relations with the Arab world were strained by its support for Iran during the Iran–Iraq War, which began in 1980. With the end of the war in August 1988, Syria began a slow process of reintegration with the other Arab states. In 1989, it joined with the rest of the Arab world in readmitting Egypt to the 19th Arab League Summit at Casablanca.
This decision, prompted in part by Syria's need for Arab League support of its own position in Lebanon, marked the end of the Syrian-led opposition to Egypt and the 1977–79 Sadat initiatives toward Israel, as well as the Camp David Accords. It coincided with the end of the 10-year Arab subsidy to Syria and other front-line Arab countries pledged at Baghdad in 1978. Syria re-established full diplomatic relations with Egypt in 1989. In the 1990–1991 Gulf War, Syria joined other Arab states in the US-led multinational coalition against Iraq. In 1998, Syria began a slow rapprochement with Iraq, driven primarily by economic needs. In this period, Syria continued to play an active pan-Arab role, which intensified as the Israel-Palestine peace process collapsed in September 2000 with the start of the second Palestinian uprising (Intifada) against Israel. Though it voted in favor of UNSCR 1441 in 2002, Syria was against coalition military action in Iraq in 2003. However, the Syrian government accepted UNSCR 1483 (after being absent for the actual vote), which lifted sanctions on Iraq and established a framework to assist the Iraqi people in determining their political future and rebuilding their economy.
After start of the war in 2011, much of the Middle East condemned Syria's handling of the civil uprising, with only a few countries in the Middle East supporting Syria, most notably Iran, Iraq and Lebanon.
Both countries established diplomatic relations on 18 November 1951 when has been accredited Chargé d'Affaires ad interim of Afghanistan to Syria (Resident in Bagdad) Mr. Mir Amanullah Rahimi.[66]
Afghan Taliban officials and Syrian minister met for the first time to discuss cooperation in 2023,[273] but the Assad regime and the Taliban have no diplomatic relations. After the fall of the Assad regime, Afghan foreign minister Amir Khan Muttaqi congratulated the Syrian transitional government on its victory and expressed hope during a conversation with Asaad al-Shaibani that the two countries could establish regular diplomatic relations.[274]
Both countries established diplomatic relations on 12 May 1975 when first Australian ambassador to Syria Mr. P. N. Hutton presented credentials to President Hafez al-Assad.[114]
Bahrain reopened its embassy in Damascus in December 2018.[284]
On 19 June 2022, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad received the credentials of Ambassador Waheed Mubarak Sayyar in an official ceremony attended by Foreign Minister Faisal Mekdad.[285]
In 2024, Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad met with Bahrain's Foreign Minister Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani in Damascus.[286] It was the first visit by a Bahraini foreign minister to Syria in 13 years.
India and Syria have historical and cultural links dating back to silk route trade. The countries maintained relatively cordial relations during the Syrian Civil War.[290]
Both countries established diplomatic relations on 12 November 1946 when has been accredited Envoy Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Iran to Syria with residence in Beirut Mr. Zein-el-Abdine Rahnema.[43]
During the Iran–Iraq War, Syria sided with non-Arab Iran against its enemy Iraq and was isolated by Saudi Arabia and some of the Arab countries, with the exceptions of Libya, Lebanon, Algeria, Sudan and Oman.[292]
Iran and Syria have had a strategic alliance ever since, partially due to their common animosity towards Saddam Hussein and coordination against the United States and Israel.
Syria and Iran cooperate on arms smuggling from Iran to the Hezbollah in Lebanon, which borders Israel.[293]
In addition to receiving military hardware, Iran has consistently invested billions of dollars into the Syrian economy.[294][295]
Currently, Iran is involved in implementing several industrial projects in Syria, including cement factories, car assembly lines, power plants, and silo construction. Iran also plans to set up a joint Iranian–Syrian bank in the future.
Both countries established diplomatic relations on 8 November 1945 when has been accredited Chargé d'Affaires of Iraq to Syria Mr. Ibrahim Fadli.[43]
Syria has an embassy in Baghdad and Consulate-General in Mosul.
Iraq has an embassy in Damascus.
The political states of Iraq and Syria were formed by the United Kingdom and France following the defeat of the Ottoman Empire in World War I.
Iraq and Syria are united by historical, social, political, cultural and economic relations, but share a long foreign drawn border. The land known as Mesopotamia is Iraq and eastern Syria and is called such by its inhabitants.
Political relations between Iraq and Syria have in the past seen difficulties, however, new diplomatic relations described by both sides as "Historic" were established in November 2006, beginning an era of close cooperation and political friendship between Iraq and Syria.[296]
During the early phase of the Syrian civil war, Iraq was also one of the few remaining Arab countries which support the Syrian government, and has abstained from voting to expel Syria from the Arab league.[297]
Syria has been an active belligerent, with periodic ceasefires and use of proxies, against Israel ever since May 1948, when the Syrian army captured territory from the newly established State of Israel north and south of the Sea of Galilee.
Syria was an active belligerent in the 1967 Arab–Israeli War, which resulted in Israel's occupation of the Golan Heights and the city of Quneitra. On 19 June, a week after the war ended, Israel offered to return the Golan if Syrian would agree to a full Peace Treaty. However, Syria refused. From 1967 to 1973 there were sporadic bouts of fighting along the new border.
Syria participated in the Middle East Peace Conference in Madrid in October 1991.
In 2004 and 2005 Israel and Syria engaged in private talks discussing an outline peace accord. These were successful at a technical level, but failed to gain adequate political support.[301]
Hostility between Syria and Israel further increased following Israel's execution of Operation Orchard on 6 September 2007. Israel bombed a northern Syrian complex near Dayr az-Zawr which was suspected of holding nuclear materials from North Korea.[302]
In 2008 Syrian President Bashar al-Assad confirmed that talks with Israel have resumed through a third party.[303]
Relations between the two countries improved after the death of Jordan's King Hussein Ibn Talal and accession of King Abdullah in February 1999 and the death of Hafez al-Assad and accession of his son Bashar in 2000. The Jordanian King visited Syria to congratulate Bashar that year.[307]
Both countries established diplomatic relations on 27 March 1992.[312]
Kazakhstan has an consulate-general in Damascus.[313]
Kazakhstan donated funds to help Syrian refugees fleeing the country. In 2012, about $400,000 were allocated by the country through the OIC.
Kazakhstan sent its next humanitarian aid to Syria in January 2017. The 500 tonnes of supply of food and medications were delivered to Tartus Port on the Mediterranean coast of Syria.[314]
Bilaterial relations have since come to focus on humanitarian efforts for Syria instead. For example, Kuwait has hosted three international pledging conferences in 2013, 2014, 2015, and 2016 raising 1.5bn,[315] 2.4bn,[316] 3.8bn,[317] and 10bn[318] respectively.
Relations between the two countries have since 2019 normalized.
Syria plays an important role in Lebanon by virtue of its history, size, power, and economy. Lebanon was part of Ottoman Syria until 1926. The presence of Syrian troops in Lebanon dates to 1976, when President Hafez al-Assad intervened in the Lebanese civil war on behalf of Maronite Christians. Following the 1982 Israeli invasion of Lebanon, Syrian and Israeli forces clashed in eastern Lebanon. The late U.S. Ambassador Philip Habib negotiated a cease-fire in Lebanon and the subsequent evacuation of PLO fighters from West Beirut. However, Syrian opposition blocked implementation of the 17 May 1983 Lebanese-Israeli accord on the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Lebanon. Following the February 1984 withdrawal of the UN Multinational Force from Beirut and the departure of most of Israel's forces from southern Lebanon a year later, Syria launched an unsuccessful initiative to reconcile warring Lebanese factions and establish a permanent cease-fire. Syria actively participated in the March–September 1989 fighting between the Christian Lebanese Forces and Muslim forces allied with Syria. In 1989, Syria endorsed the Charter of National Reconciliation, or "Taif Accord", a comprehensive plan for ending the Lebanese conflict negotiated under the auspices of Saudi Arabia, Algeria, and Morocco.
At the request of Lebanese President Hrawi, the Syrian military took joint action with the Lebanese Armed Forces on 13 October 1990, to oust rebel Gen. Michel Aoun who had defied efforts at reconciliation with the legitimate Government of Lebanon. The process of disarming and disbanding the many Lebanese militias began in earnest in early 1991. In May 1991, Lebanon and Syria signed the treaty of brotherhood, cooperation, and coordination called for in the Taif Accord, which is intended to provide the basis for many aspects of Syrian-Lebanese relations. The treaty provides the most explicit recognition to date by the Syrian Government of Lebanon's independence and sovereignty.
According to the U.S. interpretation of the Taif Accord, Syria and Lebanon were to have decided on the redeployment of Syrian forces from Beirut and other coastal areas of Lebanon by September 1992. Israeli occupation of Lebanon until May 2000, the breakdown of peace negotiations between Syria and Israel that same year, and intensifying Arab/Israeli tensions since the start of the second Palestinian uprising in September 2000 have helped delay full implementation of the Taif Accords. The UN declared that Israel's withdrawal from southern Lebanon fulfilled the requirements of UN Security Council Resolution 425. However, Syria and Lebanon claimed that UNSCR 425 had not been fully implemented because Israel did not withdraw from an area of the Golan Heights called Shebaa Farms, which had been occupied by Israel in 1967, and which Syria now claimed was part of Lebanon. The United Nations does not recognize this claim. However, Lebanese resistance groups such as Hezbollah use it to justify attacks against Israeli forces in that region, creating a potentially dangerous flashpoint along the Lebanon-Israeli border.
In 2005, Syrian troops withdrew from Lebanon after the assassination of Lebanese Sunni Prime Minister Rafik Hariri on 14 February 2005. In December 2008, The Syrian Embassy was opened in Beirut for the first time in history since both countries gained their Independence during the 1940s. In March 2009, Lebanon followed and opened its embassy in Damascus. On 19 December 2009, Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Al-Hariri visited Syria, and stayed in Damascus for three days meeting with President Bashar Al-Assad & breaking the ice between the two sides.[321]
Both countries were on the silk route through which civilizational exchanges took place for centuries, Islamic missionaries that introduced Islam after 711 AD were from Syria. During the Yom Kippur War of 1973 (usually referred to as the Ramadan war in Pakistan) several Pakistani pilots assisted the Syrian air force.[331] In 2005 Syria and Pakistan agreed on mutual cooperation in the fields of science and technology. Pakistan also supports the Syrian Government since the beginning of Syrian civil war.[332]
Both countries established diplomatic relations on 19 January 1972.[106]
Syrian President Hafez al-Assad sided with Saudi Arabia against Qatari Emir Hamad bin Khalifa when he deposed his father. Later on, Bashar al-Assad visited Doha in 2003, which initiated a new chapter of economic, trading and investment relations.
In 2007–8, several Qatari-funded banks were established in Syria.[335]
During the conflict in Syria, Qatar vocally and materially supported different rebels with arms and funds against the government. Qatar has been the biggest sponsor of Syrian opposition forces during the civil war.[336][337]
In January 2019, Qatar said it would not normalise relations with Syria, which it wanted to remain excluded from the Arab League.[338]
In April 2019, Qatar Airways was granted a license to fly over Syrian airspace and a Syrian ban on Qatar's Al-Jazeera station was lifted.[339]
In 2021, Qatar worked with Russia and Turkey to create a political solution to the conflict.[340]
Both countries established diplomatic relations on 26 June 1944 when has been accredited Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary of Saudi Arabia to Syria Sheikh Abdul Aziz bin Zeid.[37]
Syria has not established diplomatic relations with South Korea.[344]
On February 8, 2025, Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani met with Kim Eun-jeong, Director-General for African and Middle Eastern Affairs in Damascus. During the meeting, both parties conveyed their willingness to renew cooperation, which had been suspended since 2003.[345] Three days later, the South Korean Foreign Ministry announced that the country would establish diplomatic relations with Syria.[346]
On 11 March 2025, a tentative deal was struck for both nations to establish diplomatic relations.[347]
Both countries established diplomatic relations on 8 March 1946.[47] Diplomatic relations suspended since 2011. Syrian–Turkish relations have long been strained even though Turkey shares its longest common border with Syria and various other geographic, cultural, and historical links tie the two neighboring states together.
Because of the Syrian civil war relations between Syria and Turkey have become increasingly tense. Turkey closed its embassy in Damascus on 26 March 2012,[357] as well as its consulate–general in Aleppo.[citation needed] In April 2012 it hosted the second meeting of the Friends of Syria, the Arab-Western coalition in support of the Syrian opposition.[357]
Turkey has been taking in refugees from Syria, although abuse and injustice towards the Syrian refugees has been reported. Relations have further been degraded due to a serious incident that occurred with the Syrian downing of a Turkish military training flight in June 2012. Relations worsened further in May 2013 following a border incident involving two car bombs exploding in the town of Reyhanlı, Hatay Province, Turkey. At least 43 people were killed and 140 more were injured in the attack. The car bombs were left outside Reyhanlı's town hall and post office. The first exploded at around 13:45 local time (10:45 GMT)[40] and the second exploded about 15 minutes later.
The issue that cemented the crack in the relations was Turkey's reported dealings with the Islamic State (an enemy of the Syrian government) in oil and weapons by various sources. A video surfacing of the Islamic State being unopposed by Turkish security as they traveled across the border between Syria, questions more of Turkey's alleged role of simply fighting terrorism.[citation needed]
Turkish Military troops attacked the Kurdish backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) on 8 October 2019, after the acting US President Donald Trump recalled US military troops from Syria the previous day. The US action to move troops out of the region was done so solely by the US president with stern disapproval by US military intelligence departments.
In 2016, the Emirates was planning to normalize its relations with Syria, but was barred by the US.[361]
UAE re-opened its Damascus embassy in December 2018.[338]
In November 2021, the UAE Foreign Minister Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan travelled to Damascus to meet Bashar al-Assad. He was the first Emirati official to visit Syria, since the war. The US strongly opposed efforts to normalize ties with Syria.
On 18 March 2022, Assad travelled to the UAE to meet Emirati leaders, including Abu Dhabi's Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Dubai's Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. It was Assad's first visit to an Arab nation since 2011.[362] On 19 March 2023, Assad visited the UAE again, with his wife Asma al-Assad.[363]
The Czech Republic and Austria were the only European Union countries which never closed its embasies in Damascus throughout the Syrian civil war.[367][368]Greece and Cyprus re-established diplomatic relations with Syria and opened their embassies in 2021, making them the first EU countries to do so.[369]Bulgaria, Hungary and Romania appointed a chargé d'affaires to their diplomatic missions in the country.[367][370] In July 2024, Italy decided to re-establish relations with Syria, appoint its special envoy and chargé d'affaires to the country and reopen its embassy in Damascus.[371] Following the fall of the Assad regime, Germany and France became the first European Union countries to visit Damascus.[372] On 16 January 2025, Spain reopened its Embassy in Damascus.[373] On 20 March 2025, Germany reopened its Embassy in Damascus.[374]
Both countries established diplomatic relations on 20 March 1946 when has been appointed M.R. Taymans as Chargé d'Affaires of Belgium to Syria with residence in Beirut.[48]
Both countries established diplomatic relations on 1 February 1962 when Cyprus has agreed to the appointment of Thabit al-Aris, as Syrian Ambassador to Cyprus.[387]
Both countries re-established relations in 2021.[367]
Syrian president Bashar al-Assad became the first Syrian head of state to visit Cyprus in November 2010, resulting in the signing of five agreements between the two countries and pledges to work closer together on issues of common interest.
Christofias awarded al-Assad the Grand Collar of the Order of Makarios III, while the Syrian leader presented Christofias with the National Order of Ummayya with the Grand Sash.
Both countries established diplomatic relations on 6 July 1953 when has been accredited Envoy Extraordinary and plenipotentiary of Syria to Denmark with residence in Stockholm Jamal E. D. Farra.[389]
Syria is accredited to Denmark from its embassy in Stockholm.[390]
Denmark was represented in Syria through its embassy in Damascus until 2012, when relations between the two countries were severed.[391]
Both countries established diplomatic relations on 24 June 1947 when has been accredited Envoy Extraordinary and minister Plenipotentiary of Greece to Syria with residence in Cairo Mr. Georges Triandafyllides.[43]
On 8 May 2020, the Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias announced a restoration of relations between Greece and Syria and assigned former ambassador to Syria and Russia, Tasia Athanassiou, as a Special Envoy of Greece's Foreign Ministry for Syria.
At present, the Holy See has comparatively good relations with Syria. It has sought to foster ecumenism between rival Christian factions in Antioch and to ensure the survival of age-old Christian communities in the country. The declaration Nostra aetate has made possible inter-faith dialogue and cooperation with Syrian Muslims.
Some Vatican leaders have also sought to foster greater political independence for Lebanon, which has been tied to Syria since the end of the Lebanese civil war. This call for Lebanese independence has traditionally been resisted by Syrian leaders.
John Paul II visited Syria in 2001 and was the first pope to have been to an Islamic mosque, the Umayyad Mosque in Damascus,[402] which includes the relics of John the Baptist.
Both countries established diplomatic relations on 27 September 1947 when has been accredited Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary of Italy to Syria Mr. Luigi Cortese.[55]
Italian embassy in Damascus was reopened in 2024, after its closure at early stage of war in March 2012.[411][412][410]
In 2019, Italy announced it was considering re-opening its embassy,[413] and in July 2024 it decided to appoint an ambassador to Syria, the first such move since 2012. Italy is the first G7 nation to restore diplomatic ties with Syria.[414]
As with most of the Arab countries, Russia enjoys a historically strong and stable friendly relationship with Syria.
Since 1971, Russia has leased port facilities in Tartus for its naval fleet. Between 1992 and 2008 these facilities were much in disrepair, however, works have commenced concurrent with the 2008 South Ossetia war to improve the port's facilities to support an increased Mediterranean presence of the Russian Navy.
Russia is believed to have sent Syria dozens of Iskander missiles.[431]
Both countries established diplomatic relations on 18 May 1946 when has been accredited Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary of Yugoslavia to Syria Mr. Esref Badnjevic.[432]
Both countries established diplomatic relations on 25 August 1997.[439]
Syria is accredited to Slovenia from its embassy in Vienna.
In November 2021, during a visit to the Syrian pavilion at Expo 2020 in Dubai, the ministerial delegation of Slovenia confirmed unofficially its interest in re-establishing relations with Syria.[440]
Both countries established diplomatic relations on 24 June 1947 when with accredation of Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary of Sweden to Syria with residence in Cairo Mr. Widar Bagge.[43]
Sweden has an embassy in Damascus and honorary consulate in Aleppo.[443]
Syria is represented in Sweden through its embassy in Stockholm, Sweden.[444]
Switzerland closed its embassy in Damascus in 2012 for security reasons.[446]
Switzerland has a humanitarian presence in Damascus since 2017, through an office that coordinates Swiss humanitarian activities in Syria. Although the embassy in Damascus is closed, diplomatic relations between Switzerland and Syria have not been broken off.[446]
Syria recognised independent Ukraine on 28 December 1991.
Until 2011, relations were positive and mainly oriented on scientific-technical, trade and economic cooperation.[447]
After 11 years of frozen relations, Ukraine severed diplomatic relations with Syria on 30 June 2022, when Damascus recognized the Donetsk and Luhansk People's Republics.[448]
Ukraine opened an honorary consulate in Damascus during a visit by foreign minister Andrii Sybiha to Syria on 30 December 2024, signalling a warming in relations following the fall of the Assad regime.[450][451]
On 2 January 2025, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced plans to re-establish diplomatic relations with Syria.[452]
Both countries established diplomatic relations on 21 May 1942 when first British Minister presented his credentials to President of Syria Taj al-Din al-Hasani.[453]
In 2001, positive relations were developed between Prime Minister Tony Blair and the Syrian government, as part of the War on Terror.[454]
Since the 2011 civil war, relations have deteriorated, and the UK was one of the first countries to recognise the opposition as the sole legitimate representative of the Syrian people.[455]
This act of recognition was opposed by Algeria, Iraq and Lebanon.[472] On 9 March 2014, secretary general Nabil al-Arabi said that Syria's seat would remain vacant until the opposition completes the formation of its institutions.[473] In late 2018, Egypt, Tunisia and Morocco began lobbying for Syria's return to the League.[338]
Following the visit of Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir, the Arab League initiated the process of readmission of the Syrian Arab Republic to the organization,[489] while the United Arab Emirates reopened their embassy in Syria on 27 December,[490] and Bahrain[491] announced its intentions to reopen their embassies.
After the devastating 2023 Turkey–Syria earthquake, the Saudis, Emirati, Algerians, Iraqis and Jordanians contributed significantly to the relief effort. A week before, Al-Assad travelled to Oman for his first foreign visit since the quake.[33]
On 26 February 2023, President Bashar al-Assad had met with Iraqi, Jordanian, Palestinian, Libyan, Egyptian and Emirati speakers of legislative bodies, as well as representatives from Oman and Lebanon on behalf of Arab Inter-Parliamentary Union, to discuss further cooperation between the Arab states and Syria.[492]
In early April 2023, Saudi Arabia had invited Syria's Assad to the Arab League summit, ending regional isolation. On 13 April 2023, Syrian Foreign Minister Faisal Mekdad arrived in Jeddah to meet Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan.[493] After frayed relations during the Syrian civil war, both nations now seek "a political solution to the Syrian crisis that preserves the unity, security and stability of Syria," according to the Saudi foreign ministry.[343]
On 15 April 2023, foreign ministers of GCC+3 format met in Jeddah and discussed the return of Syria to the regional organisation and so called Arab peace plan.[494]
On 18 April 2023, Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan travelled to Damascus, met with Syrian President Assad and discussed further steps. The summit is scheduled for 19 May 2023.[495]
On 7 May 2023, at the meeting of the Council of the Arab League in Cairo composed of foreign ministers, was agreed to reinstate Syria's membership in the Arab League.[496]
Earlier, Kuwait and Qatar had opposed al-Assad's presence at the Arab League summit. The regional normalisation effort had caught the U.S. and its European allies by surprise, as they were opposing an "Arab-led political path" in solving the crisis. According to the statement, al-Assad would be allowed to the meeting on 19 May 2023, if "he wishes to do so". The new political process in Syria was described as the "Jordanian Initiative".[497]
Nevertheless, Syria remains under international sanctions after millions of Syrians had been displaced or sought refuge in Arab and European countries during the war. The changes to the relations between Syria and other Arab States would allow many of them to return to their homeland, according to the announcements made earlier by Jordanian and Saudi officials.[498]
illicit drugs: a transit point for opiates and hashish bound for regional and Western markets, as well as captagon[499]
Notes
↑ Syria and Egypt formed together the United Arab Republic from 22 February 1958, to 28 September 1961. Syria regained its independence on 28 September 1961, and Egypt kept the name "United Arab Republic" until 1971.
1 2 Libro amarillo correspondiente al año ...: presentado al Congreso Nacional en sus sesiones ordinarias de ... por el titular despacho (in Spanish). Venezuela. Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores. 2003. p.529.
1 2 Bülent Gökay, Malcolm Yapp, Michael Partridge, Paul Preston (2006). British Documents on Foreign Affairs—reports and Papers from the Foreign Office Confidential Print: Arabia, The Lebanon, Israel, Syria, Jordan and General, 1952. LexisNexis. p.311.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
1 2 3 4 British Documents on Foreign Affairs—reports and Papers from the Foreign Office Confidential Print: Arabia, The Lebanon, Israel, Syria, Jordan and General, 1952. LexisNexis. 2006. p.311.
1 2 Memoria del Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores y Culto presentada a la Asamblea Legislativa por el ... Ministro de Relaciones Exteriores y Culto (in Spanish). Costa Rica. Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores y Culto. 1962. p.110.
1 2 Bulletin de l'Afrique noire – Issues 355–366 (in French). La Documentation africaine. 1965. ... Etablissement de relations diplomatiques entre la Syrie et le Sénégal
1 2 3 4 Cahiers de l'Orient contemporain Volume 23 (in French). G.P. Maisonneuve. 1966. p.45. ... 13 septembre ETABLISSEMENT DE RELATIONS DIPLOMATIQUES , au rang d'ambassade , avec la Tanzanie et le Niger ( Ba'th , 14 septembre )
↑ "Diplomatic and Consular List"(PDF). Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Mongolia. March 2020. pp.4–8. Archived from the original(PDF) on 21 February 2022. Retrieved 13 February 2024.
1 2 Chronologie politique africaine Volume 11 (in French). Centre d'étude des relations internationales. 1970. p.23. 22 mai – Etablissement de relations diplomatiques au niveau des ambassades entre la Syrie et Maurice, selon un communiqué syrien.
↑ Directory of Officials of the People's Socialist Republic of Albania. U.S. Central Intelligence Agency, National Foreign Assessment Center. 1979. p.69.
1 2 Daily Report Middle East & North Africa. Index · Volume 2, Issues 1–2. United States. Foreign Broadcast Information Service. 1979. p.108.
↑ Kolko, Gabriel (13 February 2007). "US force-marches Israel over Syria". Asia Times. Archived from the original on 13 February 2007. Retrieved 17 December 2013.
↑ "DPRK Diplomatic Relations"(PDF). NCNK (The National Committee on North Korea). August 2016. p.3. Archived from the original(PDF) on 9 October 2022. Retrieved 30 September 2023.
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