The regime-change in Syria, following the fall of the Assad regime, is favouring the return of diplomacy to the Country. Since 2012, starting with France, many Western States had closed their diplomatic offices in response to the evidence of the many crimes committed by the Syrian Government against civilians and opponents.

Among EU countries, Italy was the first to re-establish its embassy in July 2024, before the regime-change, despite not having presented credentials to the Government. It was one of the few instruments of official dialogue between the West and Damascus. In this way, France announced, through its Special Envoy for Syria, that it intends to return to Syria and support the Government and the reconstruction of the Country. Germany, too, has initiated diplomatic talks since the first days after the fall of Assad, focusing on the protection of women and minorities as well as on a possible reopening of its diplomatic mission.

The gradual return of diplomatic representatives from several European states is in line with several other countries that have immediately reactivated channels of dialogue with Damascus. Among them is Turkey — whose embassy was closed 12 years ago — as well as Qatar and Armenia. Conversely, Iran announced that in the absence of security conditions and stability in Syria, it will not return with its diplomatic mission to Damascus.

Then there is the EU whose Vice-President of the Commission and Commissioner for Foreign Affairs and Security (CFSP) has made clear her willingness to reactivate diplomatic channels between EU and Syria. In this sense, the EU Delegation, part of the wider EU external system, was not closed in the absence of an official chargé d’affaires. At the same time, the EU is reviewing its rules with respect to granting refugee status to the many Syrians who still, for years, have been trying to move to the EU as a prime objective. It is clear, therefore, that the de facto recognition of the new post-Assad Government will have repercussions, in terms of tightening, the system of reception of Syrians in Europe after a decade of the ‘open arms’ policy initiated by former German Chancellor Angela Merkel.

Syria is of interest to many countries. In addition to the West, Egypt, Oman and Iraq, among others, have made it official that they will return to Damascus with their own representative offices. This gradual return of institutional diplomacy in Syria can be read from different perspectives. First, it demonstrates an acceptance of the ongoing regime-change. Moreover, it opens very relevant economic scenarios considering that rebuilding the country will cost billions of dollars and will require varying technology and expertise. Finally, the return of diplomacy shows that, despite the chaos unleashed by the war in Ukraine, many States, not only in the West, still consider the basic rules of international law to be in force. This is no small matter.