Denmark to reopen embassy in Syria after 14-year closure

Denmark has announced plans to reopen its embassy in Syria later this year, ending a 14-year suspension of diplomatic operations in Damascus.

In a statement published on January 30 on the official website of the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Danish Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen told members of the Foreign Policy Committee in Copenhagen that “the Danish embassy in Damascus, which has been closed since 2012, will be reopened during the current year.”

Rasmussen explained that restoring Denmark’s diplomatic presence would allow the government to monitor political and security developments in Syria more closely and in a constructive manner. He added that the move is also intended to strengthen cooperation with Syrian authorities in several areas, particularly on facilitating the return of displaced Syrians to their country.

The Danish foreign minister noted that he had discussed the reopening of the embassy with Syria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates, Asaad Hassan al-Shaibani, during his visit to Damascus in November.

Denmark, like many Western countries, closed its embassy in Syria in 2012 amid the outbreak of the civil war and the international isolation of the government of former president Bashar al-Assad. The conflict, which erupted in 2011, led to years of violence, mass displacement, and the severing of diplomatic ties by numerous European states.

The recent fall of the Assad regime has reshaped Syria’s political landscape and opened the door to renewed engagement by regional and Western governments. The change in power has prompted several countries to reassess their diplomatic policies toward Damascus, with Denmark now joining those moving to restore official representation in the country.

By Tamilla Hasanova