Swedish Ministers Visit Syria to Promote Return of Citizens and Support New Leadership

Swedish ministers Johan Forssell, Minister for Migration and Foreign Affairs, and Benjamin Dousa, Minister for International Development Cooperation, have made the first official Swedish ministerial visit to Syria since the ousting of Bashar al-Assad in December last year. The visit marks a significant development in Sweden's diplomatic engagement with the new Syrian leadership and is aimed at understanding the country’s ongoing challenges while promoting peaceful and democratic development.

A key focus of the visit is to encourage the return of Swedish citizens to Syria, especially those who have been convicted of crimes. The ministers emphasized the importance of being on the ground to grasp the current situation and explore opportunities for stabilizing the war-torn country. This comes following a security assessment conducted by the Swedish Security Service to ensure the delegation's safety during their stay.

The new Syrian leadership under interim president Ahmed al-Sharaa, who previously led the Islamist militia Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) linked to al-Qaeda, has adopted a softer rhetoric since assuming power. Al-Sharaa was received at the White House by former U.S. President Donald Trump in November, and the U.S. lifted the terrorism designation of HTS in July. Despite hopeful diplomatic gestures, Syria remains embroiled in violence, with continuing clashes between Assad-loyal forces and the new government.

In a joint statement to TT, Forssell and Dousa articulated the Swedish government's intention to leverage the changes in Syria’s leadership to foster a peaceful and democratic path forward. They highlighted that increasing the return of nationals, particularly convicts, is a central element of their policy toward Syria. The Swedish ministers traveled with a delegation of approximately 15 members, underscoring the visit’s importance.

This historic visit reflects Sweden’s strategic shift in foreign policy towards Syria following the regime change, signaling increased diplomatic engagement and efforts to address migration and security concerns linked to Swedish citizens residing in Syria.