Syria's Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates Asaad Hassan al-Shaibani held talks with Dutch Foreign Minister Tom Berendsen in Damascus on Wednesday, focusing on enhancing bilateral cooperation, according to the Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA).
First Dutch Visit Since Regime Change
The meeting marked Berendsen's first visit to Syria since the fall of the Assad regime in 2024. He was accompanied by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Asylum and Migration Bart van den Brink. The discussions covered a range of issues, including migration, security coordination, and attracting investment to rebuild Syria's energy, tourism, and banking sectors after 14 years of civil war.
Resumption of Direct Flights
In a related development, Syrian Airlines announced this week that it would operate its first direct flight from Damascus to Amsterdam since 2011, scheduled for the first week of July. This move signals a gradual normalization of ties between Syria and European nations.
Several European foreign ministers have visited Syria over the past two years, including those from the United Kingdom, Germany, France, and Italy. The country has actively sought to build closer security and diplomatic relationships with Europe after years of international isolation.
