Editing Foreign relations of Syria (section)

==Membership in international organizations==
Syria is a member of the [[Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa]],<ref name="intro">{{cite web|url=http://www.badea.org/|title=Introduction|website=Badea.org}}</ref> [[Arab Fund for Economic and Social Development]],<ref name="Welcome to Arab Fund for Economic & Social Development">{{cite web | title=Member States | website=Welcome to Arab Fund for Economic & Social Development | url=http://www.arabfund.org/Default.aspx?pageId=129&mid=235 | access-date=11 June 2021 | archive-date=29 January 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220129220419/https://www.arabfund.org/Default.aspx?pageId=129&mid=235 | url-status=dead }}</ref> [[Arab Industrial Development and Mining Organization]], [[Arab League]], [[Arab Monetary Fund]], [[Arab Parliament]], [[Arab States Broadcasting Union]], [[ALBA]] (observer), [[Asian–African Legal Consultative Organization]], [[Asian Parliamentary Assembly]],<ref>{{cite web |title=Member Parliaments |url=http://www.asianparliament.org/member-parliaments/ |website=asianparliament.org}}</ref> [[Association of Arab Universities]], [[Bureau International des Expositions]], [[Council of Arab Economic Unity]], [[Customs Cooperation Council]], [[Economic and Social Council (Arab League)|Economic and Social Council]], [[Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia]], [[European Broadcasting Union]] (associate member),<ref name = "EBU Associate Members">{{cite web|url=https://www.ebu.ch/about/members?type=associate|title=EBU – Members|date=28 February 2019|publisher=EBU.ch|access-date=7 July 2020}}</ref> [[Federation of Euro-Asian Stock Exchanges|FEAS]], [[Food and Agriculture Organization]], [[Group of 24]], [[Group of 77]], [[International Atomic Energy Agency]], [[International Bank for Reconstruction and Development]], [[International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes]], [[International Civil Aviation Organization]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.icao.int/MemberStates/Member%20States.English.pdf|title=Member States|publisher=ICAO|access-date=19 July 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120612030351/http://www.icao.int/MemberStates/Member%20States.English.pdf|archive-date=12 June 2012|url-status=live}}</ref> [[International Confederation of Arab Trade Unions]], [[International Chamber of Commerce]], [[International Development Association]],<ref name="IDA Graduates">{{cite web | title = IDA Graduates | publisher = International Development Association | author = International Development Association | url = http://ida.worldbank.org/about/ida-graduates | access-date = 13 June 2019}}</ref> [[Islamic Development Bank]] (suspended 2012),<ref name="Alsharif 2012" /> [[International Fund for Agricultural Development]], [[International Finance Corporation]], [[International Labour Organization]], [[International Monetary Fund]], [[International Maritime Organization]], [[Intelsat]], '''[[Interpol]]''',<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.interpol.int/Member-countries/Asia-South-Pacific/Syria |title=Syria / Asia & South Pacific / Member countries / Internet / Home – INTERPOL |access-date=29 June 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180629155449/https://www.interpol.int/Member-countries/Asia-South-Pacific/Syria |archive-date=29 June 2018}}</ref> [[International Olympic Committee]], [[International Organization for Standardization]], [[International Renewable Energy Agency|IRENA]] (acceding), [[International Solar Alliance]], [[International Telecommunication Union]], [[Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency]], [[Non-Aligned Movement]], [[Organization of Arab Petroleum Exporting Countries]], [[Organisation of Islamic Cooperation]],<ref>{{cite web | title=OIC restores Syria's membership after more than decade of suspension | website=[[Middle East Monitor]] | date=2025-03-09 | url=https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20250309-oic-restores-syrias-membership-after-more-than-decade-of-suspension/ | access-date=2025-03-16}}</ref> [[Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons]] (joined 2013, suspended 2021),<ref name="Al Jazeera 2021 opcw">{{cite web | title=17 instances of chemical weapons used in Syria: Watchdog – United Nations News | publisher=Al Jazeera| date=4 June 2021 | url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/6/4/opcw-suspects-17-instances-of-chemical-weapons-use-in-syria | access-date=11 June 2021}}</ref> [[Intergovernmental Organisation for International Carriage by Rail|OTIF]], [[Parliamentary Assembly of the Mediterranean]], [[United Nations|UN]], [[UN Commission on Human Rights]], [[UN Conference on Trade and Development]], [[UNESCO]], [[UN Industrial Development Organization]], [[UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East]], [[Union for the Mediterranean]] (suspended 2011),<ref name="member-states"/> [[Universal Postal Union]], [[World Bank]], [[International Court of Justice|World Court]], [[World Customs Organization]], [[World Federation of Trade Unions]],<ref name="WFTU 2020">{{cite web | title=WFTU » Syria: The WFTU President is participating and addressed the 27th Congress of GFTU-Syria | publisher=WFTU | date=13 February 2020 | url=http://www.wftucentral.org/syria-the-wftu-president-addressed-the-27th-congress-gftu-syria/ | access-date=11 June 2021}}</ref> [[World Health Organization]], [[WHO Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean]], [[World Intellectual Property Organization]], [[World Meteorological Organization]], [[World Tourism Organization]] and [[International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies]].

Syria's two-year term as a nonpermanent member of the [[UN Security Council]] ended in December 2003.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.un.org/securitycouncil/content/countries-elected-members |title=Countries Elected Members |author=<!--Not stated--> |date= 6 December 2021|publisher=United Nations Security Council |access-date=6 December 2021}}</ref> Syria was elected to the executive of the [[World Health Organization]] in 2021.<ref name="The Independent 2021">{{cite news | title=Protesters slam choice of Syria for board of UN health body | website=The Independent | date=31 May 2021 | url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/protesters-slam-choice-of-syria-for-board-of-un-health-body-syria-world-health-organization-bashar-assad-idlib-un-watch-b1857120.html | access-date=11 June 2021}}</ref><ref name="Jaafari 2021">{{cite web | last=Jaafari | first=Shirin | title=Syrians outraged by WHO board election: 'It's like appointing a mass murderer to be the police chief' | website=The World from PRX | date=4 June 2021 | url=https://www.pri.org/stories/2021-06-04/syrians-outraged-who-board-election-it-s-appointing-mass-murderer-be-police-chief | access-date=11 June 2021}}</ref>

===Arab League===
Syria was temporarily suspended from the Arab League since the beginning of the [[Syrian civil war]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2011/nov/12/syria-suspended-arab-league|work=The Guardian|author1=David Batty| author2=Jack Shenker|title=Syria suspended from Arab League|date=12 November 2011}}</ref> Six of the [[Arab states of the Persian Gulf]] recognised the [[Syrian National Coalition]] as Syria's only legitimate representative on 12 November 2012, but [[Iraq]], [[Algeria]] and [[Lebanon]] prevented the Arab League from following suit.<ref name="Reuters 2012">{{cite web|agency=Reuters|title=New Syrian opposition chief seeks recognition, arms|website=Antigua Observer Newspaper|date=13 November 2012|url=https://antiguaobserver.com/new-syrian-opposition-chief-seeks-recognition-arms/|access-date=23 November 2018|archive-date=24 November 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181124005216/https://antiguaobserver.com/new-syrian-opposition-chief-seeks-recognition-arms/}}</ref> On 26 March 2013, at the [[Arab league summit 2013|Arab league summit]] in [[Doha]], the League recognised the [[National Coalition for Syrian Revolutionary and Opposition Forces]], as the legitimate representatives of the Syrian people. The National Coalition was henceforth granted Damascus' seat at the summit.

This act of recognition was opposed by Algeria, Iraq and Lebanon.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20130329144042/http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/world/2013-03/26/c_132263388.htm 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>{{cite web |url=http://www.dailystar.com.lb/News/Middle-East/2014/Mar-09/249749-syria-opposition-not-yet-ready-for-arab-league-seat.ashx|title=Syria opposition 'not yet ready for Arab League seat'|work=The Daily Star Newspaper – Lebanon|access-date=20 November 2014|archive-date=10 March 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140310000406/http://www.dailystar.com.lb/News/Middle-East/2014/Mar-09/249749-syria-opposition-not-yet-ready-for-arab-league-seat.ashx#axzz2uAA4pFGD}}</ref> In late 2018, [[Egypt]], [[Tunisia]] and [[Morocco]] began lobbying for Syria's return to the League.<ref name="Al Jazeera 2019 Qatar"/>

In December 2018, after American president [[Donald Trump]] announced the partial withdrawal of U.S. troops from Syria, some countries initiated reopening of their diplomatic relations with Syria. Diplomatic relations have returned with [[Iraq]], [[Saudi Arabia]] (in 2023), [[Egypt]] (after [[2013 Egyptian coup d'état|3 July 2013]]), [[Tunisia]], [[United Arab Emirates|UAE]] (after 2018), [[Jordan]] (after 2021),<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.trtworld.com/opinion/jordan-makes-a-u-turn-to-reintegrate-syria-into-the-regional-fold-50469|date=5 May 2022|access-date=5 May 2022|publisher=TRT World|title=Jordan makes a U-turn to reintegrate Syria into the regional fold}}</ref> [[Lebanon]] (after 2021),<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://sana.sy/en/?p=254782|title=Lebanon's relations with Syria outstanding, Hajj Hassan says|agency=Syrian Arab News Agency|date=17 November 2021|access-date=5 May 2022}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://sana.sy/en/?p=253433|title=Syria, Lebanon discuss means to boost cooperation, integration|agency=Syrian Arab News Agency|date=4 November 2021|access-date=5 May 2022}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/lebanese-spy-chief-says-he-will-visit-syria-over-missing-us-reporter-2022-06-03/|work=Reuters|title=Lebanese spy chief says he will visit Syria over missing U.S. reporter |access-date=7 June 2022|date=3 June 2022}}</ref> [[Algeria]],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://syriatimes.sy/index.php/news/local/22999-syria-algeria-stress-unified-stance-on-need-to-combat-terrorism |title=Syria, Algeria Stress Unified Stance on Need to Combat Terrorism |work=Syria Times |date=29 March 2016 |access-date=29 March 2016 |archive-date=30 September 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200930212754/http://syriatimes.sy/index.php/news/local/22999-syria-algeria-stress-unified-stance-on-need-to-combat-terrorism/}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://sana.sy/en/?p=277296|date=6 July 2022|access-date=23 July 2022 |agency=Syrian Arab News Agency|title=Algerian President, Mikdad discuss means of strengthening bilateral relations, issues of common interest}}</ref> [[Mauritania]] (after 2018),<ref name="arg"/> [[Bahrain]] (after 2018),<ref name=bhrel/> [[Kuwait]] (after 2018),<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-mideast-crisis-syria-kuwait-idUSKCN1OU0VP|title=Kuwait expects more Arab countries to reopen embassies in Damascus: KUNA|work=Reuters|date=31 December 2018|access-date=5 May 2022}}</ref> [[Libya]],<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://sana.sy/en/?p=187227|title=Libyan Embassy in Damascus reopened|agency=Syrian Arab News Agency|date=3 March 2020|access-date=5 May 2022}}</ref> [[Oman]],<ref name="nyt">{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/08/07/world/middleeast/syrian-foreign-minister-visits-oman-the-regional-conciliator.html|title=Syrian Official's Visit to Oman May Signal a Diplomatic Opening |last1=Gladstone|first1=Rick|newspaper=The New York Times|date=6 August 2015|access-date=28 February 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-mideast-crisis-syria-oman/syrian-fm-in-rare-oman-visit-amid-heightened-diplomacy-idUSKCN0QB1J320150806|title=Syrian FM in rare Oman visit amid heightened diplomacy|work=Reuters|date=6 August 2015|access-date=28 February 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-mideast-crisis-syria-oman/omani-foreign-minister-meets-syrias-assad-state-tv-idUSKCN0SK1HJ20151026|title=Omani foreign minister meets Syria's Assad: state TV|work=Reuters|date=26 October 2015|access-date=28 February 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.alaraby.co.uk/english/news/2015/10/26/omans-foreign-minister-meets-syrias-bashar-al-assad-in-damascus|title=Oman's foreign minister meets Syria's Bashar al-Assad in Damascus|work=alaraby |publisher=Al-Araby|date=26 October 2015|access-date=28 February 2018}}</ref> [[Comoros]], [[Sudan]] (after 2018),<ref>{{cite web|date=23 November 2017|title=Sudan's President Bashir asks Putin for 'protection' from 'aggressive' US|url=https://www.france24.com/en/20171123-sudan-president-bashir-asks-putin-protection-aggressive-us|access-date=4 November 2021|publisher=France 24}}</ref> [[Yemen]],<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-29319423|title=Yemen crisis: Why is there a war?|date=21 March 2019|access-date=25 September 2019}}</ref> [[Somalia]]<ref name=":0">{{Cite news|url=https://sana.sy/en/?p=251130|title=Mikdad holds intensive meetings with heads of delegations at NAM High-Level Meeting|date=12 October 2021|access-date=6 May 2022|agency=Syrian Arab News Agency}}</ref> and [[Palestine]].<ref>{{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|date=20 April 2022|access-date=6 May 2022}}</ref>

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>{{Cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-mideast-crisis-syria-arabs-idUSKCN1OQ1DB|title=Syria's return to Arab League requires Arab consensus: UAE minister|date=27 December 2018|work=Reuters|access-date=28 December 2018}}</ref> while the United Arab Emirates reopened their embassy in Syria on 27 December,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://news.sky.com/story/uae-reopens-syrian-embassy-amid-regional-influence-race-11592901|title=UAE reopens Syrian embassy amid regional influence race|publisher=Sky News|access-date=28 December 2018}}</ref> and Bahrain<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.aa.com.tr/en/middle-east/bahrain-reopens-embassy-in-syria/1350510|title=Bahrain reopens embassy in Syria|website=aa.com.tr|access-date=28 December 2018}}</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>{{Cite news|url=https://thearabweekly.com/arab-mps-headed-iraqs-halbousi-join-momentum-normalisation-damascus|title=Arab MPs, headed by Iraq's Halbousi, join momentum of normalisation with Damascus|work=The Arab Weekly|date=27 February 2023}}</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>{{Cite news |date=12 April 2023 |title=Saudi Arabia, Syria welcome thaw in ties, agree to fight drug trafficking |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/isolated-syrias-fm-arrives-saudi-arabia-landmark-visit-2023-04-12/ |access-date=24 September 2024 |work=[[Reuters]]}}</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 [[Gulf Cooperation Council|GCC]]+3 format met in Jeddah and discussed the return of Syria to the regional organisation and so called Arab peace plan.<ref>{{cite news|title=Saudi Arabia and Syria discuss political solutions to latter's crises|work=Arab News|date=12 April 2023|access-date=13 April 2023
|url=https://arab.news/4fjbq}}</ref>

On 18 April 2023, Saudi [[Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Saudi Arabia)|Foreign Minister]] Prince [[Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud|Faisal bin Farhan]] travelled to [[Damascus]], met with Syrian President Assad and discussed further steps. The summit is scheduled for 19 May 2023.<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Yaakoubi |first1=Aziz El |last2=Gebeily |first2=Maya |date=2 April 2023 |title=Saudi Arabia to invite Syria's Assad to Arab leaders summit, ending regional isolation|work=Reuters|url=https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/saudi-arabia-invite-syrias-assad-arab-leaders-summit-sources-say-2023-04-02/ |access-date=7 July 2023}}</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>{{cite web|url=https://english.alarabiya.net/News/middle-east/2023/05/07/Arab-foreign-ministers-to-discuss-Syria-s-return-to-Arab-League-Sudan-conflict|title=Arab foreign ministers agree to readmit Syria to the Arab League|publisher=[[Al Arabiya]]|date=7 May 2023}}</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>{{Cite web |date=7 May 2023 |title=Arab League re-admits Syria after 11-year absence |url=https://arab.news/bf2fy |access-date=7 July 2023 |website=Arab News}}</ref>

Nevertheless, Syria remains under [[International sanctions against Syria|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>{{Cite news |last1=England |first1=Andrew |last2=Saleh |first2=Heba |date=7 May 2023 |title=Arab League to readmit Syria after decade-long hiatus |work=Financial Times |url=https://www.ft.com/content/5f2bdc35-f3b6-41d8-8ca2-de6f7f5aad53 |access-date=7 July 2023}}</ref>