Editing Foreign relations of Syria (section)

==History==
Under the [[Ba'athist Syria|Ba'athist regime]], diplomatic relations were severed with several countries, including [[Turkey]], [[Canada]], [[France]], [[Australia]], [[New Zealand]], [[Sweden]], [[Denmark]], the [[Netherlands]], [[Germany]], the [[United States]], the [[United Kingdom]], [[Belgium]], [[Spain]], [[Mexico]], [[Qatar]], [[Georgia (country)|Georgia]], and [[Ukraine]].<ref>{{Cite news |title=Assad Takes a Page Out of Russia's Book in His War Against Rebels|work=Haaretz |url=https://www.haaretz.com/2012-02-08/ty-article/assad-takes-a-page-out-of-russias-book-in-his-war-against-rebels/0000017f-dc03-d3a5-af7f-feaf182a0000 |access-date=26 February 2023}}</ref> In 2011 and 2012, Syria was suspended from the [[Organisation of Islamic Cooperation]], [[Union for the Mediterranean]] and the [[Arab League]].<ref name=":1">{{Cite news |title=Arab League readmits Syria as relations with Assad normalise |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/arab-league-set-readmit-syria-relations-with-assad-normalise-2023-05-07/ |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20241215072210/https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/arab-league-set-readmit-syria-relations-with-assad-normalise-2023-05-07/ |archive-date=2024-12-15 |access-date=2025-04-02 |work=Reuters |language=en-US}}</ref>

Ba'athist Syria had close ties with its traditional allies, [[Iran]] and [[Russia]]. Other countries that maintain good relations with the Assad regime include [[China]], [[North Korea]], [[Vietnam]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://syriatimes.sy/index.php/news/local/41316-al-moallem-receives-credentials-of-vietnam-s-non-resident-ambassador-to-syria|title=Al-Moallem Receives Credentials of Vietnam's Non-Resident Ambassador to Syria|work=Syria Times|date=22 April 2019|access-date=23 April 2019|archive-date=23 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190423154616/http://syriatimes.sy/index.php/news/local/41316-al-moallem-receives-credentials-of-vietnam-s-non-resident-ambassador-to-syria}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://sana.sy/en/?p=272366|title=Syria, Vietnam discuss cooperation, latest developments|agency=Syrian Arab News Agency|date=19 May 2022|access-date=21 May 2022}}</ref> [[Fiji]], [[Singapore]], [[Sri Lanka]],<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://sana.sy/en/?p=236599 |title=President al-Assad receives two cables of congratulation from Presidents of Armenia and Sri Lanka on winning presidential elections|agency=Syrian Arab News Agency |date=11 June 2014|access-date=23 April 2019}}</ref> [[Laos]],<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://sana.sy/en/?p=150532|title=Lao President receives credentials of Syria's non-resident ambassador|agency=Syrian Arab News Agency |date=6 November 2018 |access-date=23 April 2019}}</ref> [[Myanmar]],<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://sana.sy/en/?p=2994 |title=President al-Assad receives congratulatory cables from leaders of Myanmar and Abkhazia|agency=Syrian Arab News Agency |date=5 June 2021|access-date=7 May 2022}}</ref> [[Cambodia]],<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://sana.sy/en/?p=156480 |title=King of Cambodia accepts credentials of Mustafa as non-resident Ambassador from Syria to his country|agency=Syrian Arab News Agency |date=24 January 2019|access-date=23 April 2019}}</ref> [[Thailand]],<ref name="cg">{{Cite news |url=https://sana.sy/en/?p=269893|title=President al-Assad receives congratulation cables on occasion of 76th anniversary of Independence Day|agency=Syrian Arab News Agency |access-date=7 May 2022|date=20 April 2022}}</ref> [[Philippines]],<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://sana.sy/en/?p=240618 |title=Philippines Embassy thanks Syria for its efforts that helped bring back 22 women of its nationals|agency=Syrian Arab News Agency |date=5 July 2021|access-date=7 May 2022}}</ref> [[India]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://syriatimes.sy/index.php/news/local/9578-india-forming-international-will-to-combat-terrorism-imperative |title=India forming international will to combat terrorism imperative |work=Syria Times |date=22 November 2013 |access-date=9 February 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.syriaonline.sy/?f=Details&catid=12&pageid=7947|title=Syrian TV – India stresses need for international will against terrorism|access-date=21 February 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://syriatimes.sy/index.php/news/world/21658-ahead-with-efforts-to-combat-terrorism-and-for-a-political-solution-to-crisis |title=Ahead with Efforts to Combat Terrorism and for a Political Solution to Crisis |work=Syria Times |date=12 January 2016 |access-date=12 January 2020}}</ref> [[Pakistan]],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.syriaonline.sy/index.php?f=Details&catid=12&pageid=5662&g=1 |title=President al-Assad Sends Letter to President of Pakistan Delivered by Mikdad |publisher=Syrian TV |date=29 April 2013 |access-date=17 October 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160327180259/http://www.syriaonline.sy/index.php?f=Details&catid=12&pageid=5662&g=1 |archive-date=27 March 2016}}</ref> [[Bangladesh]],<ref>{{cite web|url=https://sana.sy/en/?p=251969|title=Mikdad receives credentials of Subhani as a non-resident Ambassador of Bangladesh|agency=Syrian Arab News Agency|date=20 October 2021 |access-date=7 May 2022}}</ref> [[Malaysia]],<ref>{{cite web |url=https://sana.sy/en/?p=230108|title=Update-President al- Assad receives cables of congratulation from presidents of Federal Russia, Belarus, UAE, Iran, Abkhazia, Palestine and king of Malaysia on Evacuation day|agency=Syrian Arab News Agency |date=18 April 2021 |access-date=7 May 2022}}</ref> [[Indonesia]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://syriatimes.sy/index.php/news/local/31892-syria-indonesia-discuss-mechanisms-to-develop-parliamentary-relations |title=Syria, Indonesia discuss mechanisms to develop parliamentary relations |work=Syria Times |date=27 July 2017 |access-date=27 July 2017 |archive-date=18 September 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170918034446/http://syriatimes.sy/index.php/news/local/31892-syria-indonesia-discuss-mechanisms-to-develop-parliamentary-relations}}</ref> [[Brunei]],<ref>{{cite news|url=https://sana.sy/en/?p=3097 |title=President al-Assad receives congratulation cable from Sultan of Brunei Darussalam on winning presidential elections|agency=Syrian Arab News Agency |date=12 June 2014|access-date=9 October 2015}}</ref> [[Armenia]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sana.sy/en/?p=37344 |title=Armenian President: Syria will defeat terrorism |agency=Syrian Arab News Agency |date=23 April 2015 |access-date=9 October 2015}}</ref> [[Azerbaijan]], [[Kazakhstan]],<ref>{{cite web|url=https://sana.sy/en/?p=177699|title=Syria, Kazakhstan discuss means to invigorate relations in different domains  |agency=Syrian Arab News Agency |date=6 November 2019|access-date=7 May 2022}}</ref> [[Kyrgyzstan]],<ref>{{cite web|url=https://sana.sy/en/?p=249270|title=Mikdad discusses with foreign ministers of Venezuela, Kyrgyzstan and Belarus relations and developments|agency=Syrian Arab News Agency |date=24 September 2021|access-date=7 May 2022}}</ref> [[Uzbekistan]],<ref name="cg" /> [[Turkmenistan]],<ref name="cg" /> [[Mongolia]],<ref>{{cite web|url=https://sana.sy/en/?p=147232 |title=Mongolian President pleased with Syria's success in clearing most of its territory from terrorism|agency=Syrian Arab News Agency |date=18 September 2018|access-date=7 May 2022}}</ref> [[Tajikistan]],<ref>{{cite web|url=https://sana.sy/en/?p=174870|title=Tajikistan to develop ties with Syria at various levels, Tajik envoy says |agency=Syrian Arab News Agency |date=4 October 2019|access-date=7 May 2022}}</ref> [[Greece]], [[Cyprus]], [[North Macedonia]],<ref>{{cite web |title=Bilateral relations|url=http://www.mfa.gov.mk/default1.aspx?ItemID=310|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110930040551/http://www.mfa.gov.mk/default1.aspx?ItemID=310|archive-date=30 September 2011|access-date=3 April 2021|website=Ministry of Foreign Affairs of North Macedonia}}</ref> [[Czech Republic]], [[Romania]], [[Bulgaria]], [[Hungary]],<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.arabnews.com/node/1553061 |title=Hungary to appoint Syria diplomat in thawing of ties |date=11 September 2019}}</ref> [[Serbia]], [[Montenegro]],<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.gov.me/en/diplomatic-missions/diplomatic-missions-to-montenegro/syria |website=gov.me|access-date=10 May 2022|title=Syria* Diplomatic Missions to Montenegro and visa regimes for citizens of Montenegro}}</ref> [[Vatican City]] and [[Belarus]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://syriatimes.sy/index.php/news/local/35807-azzam-coveys-message-from-president-al-assad-to-his-belarusian-counterpart-on-bilateral-ties |title=Azzam Coveys Message from President Al-Assad to His Belarusian Counterpart on Bilateral Ties |work=Syria Times |date=5 April 2018 |access-date=7 April 2018}}</ref> Syria was a candidate state of the  [[Eurasian Economic Union]] (EAEU).<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.arabnews.com/node/1816451|publisher=Arab News|title=Iran wants to join the Eurasian Economic Union – but will Russia allow it?|author=Nikola Miković|date=26 February 2022|access-date=5 May 2022}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://sana.sy/en/?p=41638|agency=[[Syrian Arab News Agency]]|date=20 May 2015|access-date=5 May 2022|title=Standard economic model set to evaluate influence of joining the EEU on economic indicators}}</ref>

Syria maintains [[Kurdistan Region–Syria relations|relations]] with autonomous [[Kurdistan Region|Iraqi Kurdistan]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Syrian minister to visit Kurdistan Region in bid to boost tourism ties |url=http://www.rudaw.net/english/middleeast/01082017 |access-date=14 August 2017|agency=Rudaw|date=1 August 2017}}</ref> Syria has not recognized [[Israel]] since the [[1948 Arab–Israeli War]]. Ba'athist Syria also didn’t have diplomatic relations with [[South Korea]], but the Assad regime had diplomatic relations with [[Abkhazia]] and [[South Ossetia]] (two [[Russian-occupied territories in Georgia]]).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://syriatimes.sy/index.php/news/local/37419-syria-south-ossetia-sign-agreement-on-establishing-diplomatic-ties |title=Syria, South Ossetia Sign Agreement on Establishing Diplomatic Ties |work=Syria Times |date=22 July 2018 |access-date=22 July 2018 |archive-date=25 July 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180725180744/http://syriatimes.sy/index.php/news/local/37419-syria-south-ossetia-sign-agreement-on-establishing-diplomatic-ties}}</ref>

On 26 February 2023, [[Bashar al-Assad]] met with [[Iraq]]i, [[Jordan]]ian, [[Palestinian]], [[Libya]]n, [[Egypt]]ian and [[United Arab Emirates|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">{{Cite web |title=Syria's Assad meets senior Arab lawmakers in Damascus |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/2/26/syrias-assad-meets-senior-arab-lawmakers-in-damascus |access-date=27 February 2023 |publisher=Al Jazeera}}</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" />

Since the fall of the Assad regime in 2024, it is unclear whether the new [[Syrian caretaker government|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>{{Cite news |date=13 December 2024 |title=Turkey appoints charge d'affaires at its embassy in Damascus |url=https://english.enabbaladi.net/archives/2024/12/turkey-appoints-charge-daffaires-at-its-embassy-in-damascus/ |access-date=24 December 2024}}</ref> In December 2024, Qatar also re-established diplomatic relations with Syria.<ref>{{Cite news |date=15 December 2024 |title=Qatar Announces Resumption of Embassy Operations in Syria from Tuesday |url=https://mofa.gov.qa/en/qatar/latest-articles/latest-news/details/2024/12/15/qatar-announces-resumption-of-embassy-operations-in-syria-from-tuesday |access-date=15 December 2024}}</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>{{Cite web |last=commsmanager |date=2025-04-15 |title=Saudi Arabia Increases Engagement with Syria |url=https://www.persecution.org/2025/04/15/saudi-arabia-increases-engagement-with-syria/ |access-date=2025-04-16 |website=International Christian Concern |language=en-US}}</ref>