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.<ref name="aljazeera.com">Template:Cite web</ref> Syrian–Turkish normalization was also underway since 2022. On 7 May 2023, following these rapprochements, Syria was readmitted to the Arab League.<ref name=":1" /> While the earthquake facilitated these rapprochements, the main reasons for the readmission were the Syrian refugees in neighboring countries and the Captagon trafficking, two issues that needed Syrias involvement for being solved.<ref name=":1" />
Post Ba'athist era
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.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In December 2024, Qatar also re-established diplomatic relations with Syria.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
In April 2025, Saudi Arabia increased its engagement with Syria by planning to pay off Syria's $15 million debt to the World Bank, potentially allowing Syria to receive grants for reconstruction efforts under its new government led by Ahmed al-Sharaa, who seized power in December 2024. The international community is cautiously observing al-Sharaa's government, particularly regarding its commitment to protecting religious minorities, though this move by Saudi Arabia signals a new level of diplomatic and economic engagement with the Syrian government after years of strained relations. In addition, other Gulf Arab states have announced plans to support Syria as well.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Diplomatic relations
List of countries which Syria maintains diplomatic relations with:
Both countries established diplomatic relations on 10 February 1999.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
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.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Both countries established diplomatic relations on 29 November 1964.<ref name="auto56"/>
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.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Both countries established diplomatic relations in 1944 when Rafik Asha was accredited as Chargé d'Affaires of Syrian Legation (Embassy) in Cairo.<ref name="auto44"/>
In June 2013 Egypt's president Mohammed Morsi announced he would cut all relations with the Syrian government.<ref name="BBC News 2013 Egypt to cut">Template:Cite web</ref> 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.<ref name="MEMRI 2017">Template:Cite web</ref>
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.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> They also promised the representatives of SNC to hand them over the embassy of Syria in Tripoli.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Syria officially recognized SADR on 15 April 1980, but does not maintain diplomatic relations with it.<ref name="SADR official web">Template:Cite web</ref>
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.<ref name="auto16"/>
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."<ref>Damien McElroy "Britain under pressure to withdraw diplomatic recognition of Syria" The Daily Telegraph 5 February 2012</ref>
In 2019, France24 speculated that new president Kais Saied could renew his country's diplomatic relations with Syria.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
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.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Both countries established diplomatic relations on 4 September 2023.<ref name="bolivia" />
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.<ref name="Bol19"/>
In 2010, President Bashar al-Assad visited Brazil and held meeting with Lula da Silva on closer political and economic ties.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
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.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Both countries established diplomatic relations on 19 June 1973.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
In 2014, President Bashar al-Assad received several cables from President Donald Ramotar of Guyana congratulating him on his win in the 2014 Syrian presidential election.<ref name="Guy14"/>
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.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Both countries established diplomatic relations on 16 August 1975.<ref name="auto50"/>
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.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
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.<ref name="auto13"/>
Both countries established diplomatic relations on 17 November 1944.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
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. Template:As of, the embassy of the United States is suspended due to the Syrian civil war.<ref name="Dwyer Hughes 2012">Template:Cite web</ref> In May 2014, the US announced it recognised the opposition Syrian National Coalition's US offices as an official "foreign mission".<ref name="Editorial 2014">Template:Cite web</ref>
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.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
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.<ref name="Urg19"/>
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.<ref name="auto3">Template:Cite book</ref>
Afghan Taliban officials and Syrian minister met for the first time to discuss cooperation in 2023,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> 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.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
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.<ref name="auto51"/>
Bahrain reopened its embassy in Damascus in December 2018.<ref name=bhrel>Template:Cite news</ref>
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.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
In 2024, Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad met with Bahrain's Foreign Minister Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani in Damascus.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> It was the first visit by a Bahraini foreign minister to Syria in 13 years.
Both countries established diplomatic relations on 18 May 1993.<ref name="mfa_gov_ge" />
Georgia terminated diplomatic relations with Syria due to the recognition of Abkhazia and South Ossetia by Damascus.<ref name="RFE/RL 2018">Template:Cite web</ref>
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.<ref name="Middle East Institute 2017">Template:Cite web</ref>
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.<ref name="auto40"/>
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.
In addition to receiving military hardware, Iran has consistently invested billions of dollars into the Syrian economy.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite journal</ref>
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.<ref name="auto40"/>
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.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
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.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
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.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
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.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
In 2008 Syrian President Bashar al-Assad confirmed that talks with Israel have resumed through a third party.<ref name="aljazeera1">Template:Cite web</ref>
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.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Both countries established diplomatic relations on 27 March 1992.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Kazakhstan has an consulate-general in Damascus.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
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.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
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,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> 2.4bn,<ref>Template:Cite newsTemplate:Cbignore</ref> 3.8bn,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and 10bn<ref name="UN News Centre">Template:Cite web</ref> 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.<ref>New Lebanese Prime Minister visits SyriaTemplate:Webarchive, 2005</ref>
North Korea has an embassy in Damascus.<ref name="Ramani Diplomat 2018" />
North Korea is one of Syria's closest allies.<ref name="Ramani Diplomat 2018">Template:Cite web</ref>
In September 2015, the Syrian government paid tribute to Kim Il Sung in a ceremony for a new park in Damascus named in his honor.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
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.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> 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.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Both countries established diplomatic relations on 19 January 1972.<ref name="Economic Features, Limited"/>
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.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
In January 2019, Qatar said it would not normalise relations with Syria, which it wanted to remain excluded from the Arab League.<ref name="Al Jazeera 2019 Qatar">Template:Cite web</ref>
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.<ref name="Moubayed 2019">Template:Cite web</ref>
In 2021, Qatar worked with Russia and Turkey to create a political solution to the conflict.<ref name="Chmaytelli Gumrukcu Balmforth 2021">Template:Cite web</ref>
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.<ref name="auto34"/>
Both countries established diplomatic relations on 10 April 2025.<ref name="mofa.gov.kr">Template:Cite web</ref>
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.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Three days later, the South Korean Foreign Ministry announced that the country would establish diplomatic relations with Syria.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
On 11 March 2025, a tentative deal was struck for both nations to establish diplomatic relations.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Both countries established diplomatic relations on 8 March 1946.<ref name="auto22"/>
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,<ref name="Balci 2012">Template:Cite web</ref> as well as its consulate–general in Aleppo.Template: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.<ref name="Balci 2012"/>
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.Template: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.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
UAE re-opened its Damascus embassy in December 2018.<ref name="Al Jazeera 2019 Qatar" />
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.
Both countries established diplomatic relations on 23 May 1965.<ref name="auto19"/>
Syria has an embassy in Sanaa.<ref name="mofaex.gov.sy"/>
Between 2014 and 2023, Yemen's embassy in Damascus (and its ambassador) was under supervision of Houthi-led Supreme Political Council.<ref name="ym3"/>
Template:Main
The Czech Republic and Austria were the only European Union countries which never closed its embasies in Damascus throughout the Syrian civil war.<ref name="euronews" /><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Greece and Cyprus re-established diplomatic relations with Syria and opened their embassies in 2021, making them the first EU countries to do so.<ref name="nationalinterest.org">Template:Cite web</ref> Bulgaria, Hungary and Romania appointed a chargé d'affaires to their diplomatic missions in the country.<ref name="euronews"/><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> 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.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Following the fall of the Assad regime, Germany and France became the first European Union countries to visit Damascus.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> On 16 January 2025, Spain reopened its Embassy in Damascus.<ref name="arabnews.com">Template:Cite web</ref> On 20 March 2025, Germany reopened its Embassy in Damascus.<ref name="nisreen">Template:Cite web</ref>
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.<ref name="auto29"/>
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.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
Both countries re-established relations in 2021.<ref name="euronews">Template:Cite news</ref>
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.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Syria is accredited to Denmark from its embassy in Stockholm.<ref name="SyrScand"/>
Denmark was represented in Syria through its embassy in Damascus until 2012, when relations between the two countries were severed.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
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.<ref name="auto40"/>
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,<ref name="Mosque">Template:Cite web</ref> 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.<ref name="auto30"/>
Italian embassy in Damascus was reopened in 2024, after its closure at early stage of war in March 2012.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="embassy close">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name=":2" />
In 2019, Italy announced it was considering re-opening its embassy,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> 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.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
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.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
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.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
Both countries established diplomatic relations on 25 August 1997.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
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.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
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.<ref name="auto40"/>
Sweden has an embassy in Damascus and honorary consulate in Aleppo.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Switzerland closed its embassy in Damascus in 2012 for security reasons.<ref name="Eidgenössisches Departement für auswärtige Angelegenheiten EDA">Template:Cite web</ref>
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.<ref name="Eidgenössisches Departement für auswärtige Angelegenheiten EDA" />
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.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite tweet</ref>
On 2 January 2025, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced plans to re-establish diplomatic relations with Syria.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Diplomatic relations were officially re-established on 24 September 2025.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
This act of recognition was opposed by Algeria, Iraq and Lebanon.<ref>Arab League summit opens in Doha with focus on Syrian crisis Xinhua News Agency. 23 March 2013. Retrieved 9 February 2014.</ref> 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.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In late 2018, Egypt, Tunisia and Morocco began lobbying for Syria's return to the League.<ref name="Al Jazeera 2019 Qatar"/>
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,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> while the United Arab Emirates reopened their embassy in Syria on 27 December,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and Bahrain<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> 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.<ref name="aljazeera.com"/>
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.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
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.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> 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.<ref name="syrf23"/>
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.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
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.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
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".<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
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.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
illicit drugs: a transit point for opiates and hashish bound for regional and Western markets, as well as captagon<ref name="Chulov 2021">Template:Cite web</ref>