Since the Syrian Republic gained independence from the French Mandate, Syria has seen tension with its neighbours, such as Turkey, Israel, Jordan, Iraq, and Lebanon. Ensuring national security, increasing influence among its Arab neighbours and securing the return of the Golan Heights, had been the primary goals of Ba'athist Syria's foreign policy. Syria is also a full member of the Arab League. Syria enjoyed an improvement in relations with several of the states in its region in the 21st century, prior to the Arab Spring and the Syrian civil war. Due to the Syrian civil war, Ba'athist Syrian government was partially isolated from the countries in the region and the wider international community until 2022. After the fall of the Assad regime in late 2024, the new Syrian government actively engaged with the European Union and neighboring countries including Turkey and the Arab world for post-war reconstruction.

History Ba'athist Syria Under the 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, and Ukraine. In 2011 and 2012, Syria was suspended from the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, Union for the Mediterranean and the Arab League.

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, Fiji, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Laos, Myanmar, Cambodia, Thailand, Philippines, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Malaysia, Indonesia Brunei, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Mongolia, Tajikistan, Greece, Cyprus, North Macedonia, Czech Republic, Romania, Bulgaria, Hungary, Serbia, Montenegro, Vatican City and Belarus. Syria was a candidate state of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU).

Syria maintains relations with autonomous Iraqi Kurdistan. Syria has not recognized Israel since the 1948 Arab–Israeli War. Ba'athist Syria also did not have diplomatic relations with South Korea, but the Assad regime had diplomatic relations with Abkhazia and South Ossetia (two Russian-occupied territories in Georgia).

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. Syrian–Turkish normalization was also underway since 2022. On 7 May 2023, following these rapprochements, Syria was readmitted to the Arab League. 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 Syria's involvement for being solved.

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. In December 2024, Qatar also re-established diplomatic relations with Syria.

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.

Diplomatic relations List of countries which Syria maintains diplomatic relations with: #CountryDate1234567891011121314151617181920212223242526272829303132333435—36373839404142434445464748495051525354555657585960616263646566676869707172737475767778798081828384858687888990919293949596979899100101102103—104105106107108109110111— (suspended)112113114115116117118119120121122123124125126127128129130131132133134135136137138139——— (suspended)140141

Bilateral relations

Africa Country Formal Relations BeganNotes27 August 1962 Both countries established diplomatic relations on 27 August 1962. Syria has an embassy in Algiers. Algeria has an embassy in Damascus. Both countries are members of Arab League.10 February 1999Both countries established diplomatic relations on 10 February 1999. 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.29 November 1964Both countries established diplomatic relations on 29 November 1964. Syria has an honorary consulate in Cotonou.29 November 1964Both countries established diplomatic relations on 29 November 1964. 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.1944 Both countries established diplomatic relations in 1944 when Rafik Asha was accredited as Chargé d'Affaires of Syrian Legation (Embassy) in Cairo. Syria has an embassy in Cairo. Egypt has an embassy in Damascus. In June 2013 Egypt's president Mohammed Morsi announced he would cut all relations with the Syrian government. 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. Both countries are members of Arab League.1963 Both countries established diplomatic relations in 1963. Syria has an embassy in Tripoli, which was reopened on 20 August 2025. Libya has an embassy in Damascus. President Bashar al-Assad, Syrian head of state, responded to the Syrian civil war in a manner frequently compared by protesters to Muammar Gaddafi's crackdown in February 2011 and beyond. Syria voted at the United Nations General Assembly to accredit the NTC as representative of Libya on 16 September 2011. 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. They also promised the representatives of SNC to hand them over the embassy of Syria in Tripoli. On 1 March 2020, a Libyan diplomatic delegation, representing the Libyan House of Representatives, visited Damascus to sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU) regarding reactivating the diplomatic missions between the two countries. Both countries are members of Arab League.11 June 1966Both countries established diplomatic relations on 11 June 1966. Syria has an embassy in Nouakchott. Mauritania has an embassy in Damascus. Both countries are members of Arab League.2 June 1956 Both countries established diplomatic relations on 2 June 1956. Syria has an embassy in Rabat, which was reopened on 14 May 2026. Morocco has an embassy in Damascus. Both countries are members of Arab League.5 August 1975Both countries established diplomatic relations on 5 August 1975. In 2018, a meeting took place between José Condungua Pacheco and Walid Muallem. 30 September 1965Both countries established diplomatic relations on 30 September 1965. Syria has an embassy in Abuja and honorary consulates in Lagos and Kano. Nigeria has an embassy in Damascus. In 2022, Nigeria called for lifting all sanctions imposed on Syria.15 April 1980 (recognition) See Syria officially recognized SADR on 15 April 1980, but does not maintain diplomatic relations with it. SADR has General Delegation in Damascus.21 January 1965Both countries established diplomatic relations on 21 January 1965. Syria has an embassy in Dakar. Senegal is accredited to Syria from its embassy in Cairo. 13 December 1964Both countries established diplomatic relations on 13 December 1964. 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. Syria has a non-resident embassy in Sanaa. Syria formerly had an embassy in Mogadishu but vacated it in 1991 due to the outbreak of the Somali Civil War. Somalia has an embassy in Damascus. Both countries are members of Arab League.1 June 1994Both countries established diplomatic relations on 1 June 1994. Syria has an embassy in Pretoria. South Africa has an embassy in Damascus. Both countries share close political and economic relations.28 January 1957 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. Syria has an embassy in Khartoum. Sudan has an embassy in Damascus. 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. Both countries are members of Arab League.13 September 1966Both countries established diplomatic relations on 13 September 1966. Syria has an embassy in Dar-es-Salaam. Tanzania is accredited to Syria from its embassy in Cairo. In 2013, Tanzania supported Syrian government in the civil war.2 June 1956Both countries established diplomatic relations on 2 June 1956. Syria has an embassy in Tunis. Tunisia has an embassy in Damascus. 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."Damien McElroy "Britain under pressure to withdraw diplomatic recognition of Syria" The Daily Telegraph 5 February 2012 In 2019, France24 speculated that new president Kais Saied could renew his country's diplomatic relations with Syria. Following the 2023 Turkey–Syria earthquake, President Saied decided to strengthen diplomatic ties with Syria to the ambassador level. In April 2023, Syria officially re-established diplomatic relations with Tunisia. Both countries are members of Arab League.28 June 1972Both countries established diplomatic relations on 28 June 1972. Syria has an honorary consulate in Kampala.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.

Americas Syria has diplomatic relations with most Central and South American countries such as Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Cuba, Ecuador, El Salvador, Grenada, Guatemala, Guyana, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Saint Lucia, Suriname, Uruguay and Venezuela.

Country Formal Relations BeganNotes18 April 1983Both countries established diplomatic relations on 18 April 1983. Syria has an honorary consulate in St. John's. In 2021, Antigua along with other ALBA members, expressed support for Syria in the war.23 November 1945 Both countries established diplomatic relations on 23 November 1945. Argentina has an embassy in Damascus. Syria has an embassy in Buenos Aires.