Syrian, Dutch ministers meet in Damascus to discuss bilateral ties

Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani received Dutch Foreign Minister Caspar Veldkamp at Tishreen Palace in Damascus on Wednesday for discussions on enhancing bilateral cooperation. The meeting marked another step in Syria's diplomatic outreach to European capitals since the fall of the Assad regime late last year.

Al-Shaibani welcomed the Dutch delegation at the presidential palace in the Syrian capital, state news agency SANA reported. Both ministers examined prospects for expanding cooperation and deepening diplomatic ties between Damascus and Amsterdam, according to the agency.

Political Transition

The visit comes as Syria's transitional government accelerates efforts to rebuild international partnerships severed during Bashar al-Assad's rule. European countries have gradually resumed diplomatic engagement with Damascus since Assad fled to Russia on Dec. 8, 2024, ending nearly 25 years of authoritarian governance and the Baath Party's decades-long dominance that began in 1963.

President Ahmad al-Sharaa formed a transitional administration in January 2025 to guide the country through the post-conflict period. The new government has prioritized normalizing relations with Western nations while navigating complex regional dynamics and addressing reconstruction needs.