Syrian Foreign Minister to Visit Baghdad Soon, Aims to Strengthen Ties
Al-Shaibani confirmed that he had received an official invitation from the Iraqi government and would travel to Baghdad in the near future.
ERBIL (Kurdistan24) – Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani announced his intention to visit Baghdad soon, emphasizing the Syrian government’s commitment to strengthening diplomatic relations with Iraq.
Speaking at a press conference during the World Governments Summit in the UAE, al-Shaibani confirmed that he had received an official invitation from the Iraqi government and would travel to Baghdad in the near future.
This visit marks the first official trip by a high-ranking official from Syria’s new leadership to Iraq following the fall of the Bashar al-Assad regime. Al-Shaibani stated that the Syrian government seeks to enhance diplomatic engagement with all regional countries, particularly its close neighbors.
Deepening Iraq-Syria Diplomatic Engagement
Diplomatic contacts between Iraq and Syria have been increasing in recent months. On Jan. 26, 2024, an Iraqi delegation led by Hamid al-Shatri, the Iraqi National Intelligence Service (INIS) visited Damascus and held discussions with Ahmad al-Sharaa, Syria’s transitional president. However, apart from this intelligence delegation, no other high-ranking Iraqi officials have visited Syria since the leadership change.
Read More: New details emerge about Iraqi Intelligence Chief's visit to Syria
In a related development, Amer Al-Fayez, a member of Iraq’s Parliamentary Foreign Relations Committee, recently confirmed that Ahmad al-Sharaa has been invited to the upcoming Arab League Summit in Baghdad, scheduled for late April 2025.
Read More: Iraq to Invite Syrian Leader Ahmad al-Sharaa to Arab Summit in Baghdad
Fayaz noted that while Iraq had not initially planned to extend an invitation to Sharaa, the evolving dynamics in the international community made such an invitation necessary. "Given recent international developments, Iraq has no choice but to engage with Sharaa as Syria's new leader," he stated.
Shaibani’s upcoming visit to Baghdad is expected to set the stage for further discussions on regional security, economic cooperation, and Syria’s reintegration into the Arab diplomatic framework.