Syria Reopens Embassy in Libya After 14 Years

Syria has reopened its embassy in Libya after more than 14 years, marking a significant step in Damascus’s efforts to restore diplomatic ties and expand its regional engagement following the country’s political transition.

Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Hassan al-Shaibani inaugurated the embassy in Tripoli on Sunday during an official visit to Libya, with Libyan acting Foreign Minister Taher al-Baour, government officials and members of the diplomatic corps attending the ceremony.

According to Syria’s official SANA news agency, the two countries also agreed to reactivate the Syrian-Libyan Higher Joint Committee, providing an institutional framework for expanding bilateral cooperation.

Al-Shaibani held talks with Libyan Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Dbeibah and other senior officials, with discussions covering political relations, trade, investment and security cooperation, including counterterrorism.

The two sides also addressed consular services for Syrians living in Libya and discussed the possibility of opening a Syrian consulate in Benghazi.

The reopening reflects Damascus’s broader effort to rebuild diplomatic relationships and strengthen its presence beyond the immediate Middle East, while giving Syria and Libya a formal mechanism to pursue practical cooperation after years of disrupted ties.

Libya hosts a sizeable Syrian community, estimated by The National at around 200,000 people, making the restoration of consular services an immediate practical issue alongside the wider diplomatic significance of the move.

The revival of the Higher Joint Committee could also facilitate cooperation in investment, trade and security as Syria seeks new economic relationships and support for reconstruction.

The development adds a North African dimension to Syria’s expanding diplomatic outreach, which has accelerated as the new leadership seeks to restore state-to-state relations and reposition Damascus within regional and international diplomacy.