Syria officially reopened its embassy in Morocco on May 14, 2026, marking a significant diplomatic reset between Rabat and Damascus after 14 years of severed relations. For the occasion, Syria’s new authorities dispatched their foreign minister to Morocco, where he met his Moroccan counterpart. The visit sealed a rapprochement between the two countries following years of strained ties that had persisted since the closure of the embassy in 2012.
The ceremony marked a symbolic moment, with the flags of Syria and Morocco displayed side by side during talks between the two foreign ministers—an image described as unthinkable just a few years ago.
Break in relations during Syrian civil war
Morocco cut diplomatic relations with the Syrian regime in 2012 at the height of the Syrian civil war, as the government of Bashar al-Assad—who led Syria from 2000 to 2024—faced accusations of a violent crackdown on opposition groups.
Relations remained frozen for more than a decade, with Syria also maintaining close ties to the Polisario Front, the Sahrawi independence movement opposed by Morocco in the Western Sahara dispute.
Shift after political change in Damascus
The fall of Bashar al-Assad’s government in December 2024 created an opportunity for diplomatic realignment between Rabat and Damascus. Morocco has since pushed for Syria to align more closely with its positions on regional issues.
This week’s visit by Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Hassan Al-Shaibani—the first official trip of its kind to Morocco—formalised that shift.
During talks with Moroccan Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita, Al-Shaibani reaffirmed his country’s respect for Morocco’s territorial integrity and sovereignty over its entire territory, including the disputed Western Sahara region.
He also oversaw the reopening of the Syrian embassy in Rabat, describing the move as reflecting “the will of the new Syria to open a promising page in its relations with Morocco.”
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