Syrian Foreign Minister Restores Ties and Reopens Embassy in Tripoli During Libya Visit

Syria's Foreign Minister Asaad Al Shibani traveled to Tripoli on Sunday to explore avenues for boosting economic and security ties with Libya, marking another major stop in his diplomatic tour across North Africa. During the visit, Mr Al Shibani officially presided over the reopening ceremony of Syria's embassy in Tripoli, which had remained closed for the past 14 years.

In an official meeting with Libyan Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Dbeibah, discussions focused on strengthening trade, investment, and economic co-operation, alongside joint counter-terrorism and security efforts, according to the official Libyan News Agency. Both the post-Bashar Al Assad administration in Syria and the current Libyan government share close ties with Turkey, a nation that has actively sought to expand its geopolitical influence in the Mediterranean region over the past decade.

Coinciding with these diplomatic talks, Lt Gen Salah Al Din Al Namroush, chief of staff of the Libyan Army, met in Ankara with the Turkish chief of the general staff, Lt Gen Selcuk Bayraktaroglu, to discuss expanding military partnerships and developing Libya's military institutions.

The historical connections between Syria and Libya run deep, with Syria's civil war from 2011 to 2024 overlapping with Libya's conflict from 2014 to 2020. Throughout those years, foreign powers recruited thousands of Syrian militiamen—representing both sides of the domestic conflict involving former president Bashar Al Assad—to fight in the Libyan war.

Furthering bilateral ties, Mr Al Shibani also met with Libyan Oil Minister Khalifa Abdulsadek and Mahmoud Hassan, head of the Libyan Investment Authority, to discuss energy cooperation, investment opportunities, and the exchange of expertise in mutually beneficial sectors. These discussions come as Syria grapples with severe fuel shortages, maintaining an oil output of just 85,000 barrels per day compared to 350,000 bpd in 2010. Meanwhile, Libya produces 1.4 million bpd, slightly below its output during the rule of Muammar Qaddafi.

Under President Ahmad Al Shara, Syria's new government is actively working to elevate its international profile, forging diplomatic ties even with nations that previously supported the former Assad regime. Recent diplomatic efforts by Mr Al Shibani have also included visits to Algeria for talks with President Abdelmadjid Tebboune, and to Egypt for meetings with Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty, following the dismantling of Syria's former security apparatus after the removal of Al Assad.