On December 17, starting at 2:30 PM for approximately 15 minutes, Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs Yohei Onishi received a courtesy call from Mr. Najib Elji, Charge d'Affaires of the Embassy of the Syrian Arab Republic in Japan. At the outset, Vice-Minister Onishi stated that Japan, in coordination with the international community, would support an inclusive, peaceful, and stable transition led by the Syrian government and its people. In response, Charge d'Affaires Elji expressed gratitude for Japan's consistent support for the Syrian people and voiced his desire to strengthen bilateral cooperation.

Dramatic Regime Change and the Path to Reconstruction

The background to this meeting lies in the dramatic shift in the Syrian situation. The Syrian Arab Republic, roughly half the size of Japan, had long been under the authoritarian rule of the Assad regime. However, in December 2024, opposition forces centered on Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), based in Idlib in the northwest, seized control of Damascus, and President Assad fled to Russia. Following this, the "Syrian Salvation Government," having received a transfer of authority from the Prime Minister under the Assad regime, established itself as the interim government. In January 2025, Mr. Ahmad al-Sharaa assumed the position of Interim President.

The new administration declared it would implement a transition to a new system by March 2025. It is currently in the midst of building a new nation through the implementation of national dialogues and the ratification of a constitutional declaration. Indeed, with the announcement of a new cabinet list in March 2025, the path forward is by no means simple, but Syria is slowly beginning to move toward reconstruction.

Breaking Away from Diplomatic Isolation and Japan's Role

Diplomatic isolation is also beginning to thaw. After taking office, President Sharaa activated diplomatic efforts by visiting Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Jordan in February 2025 to hold summit meetings. Responding to this, Western nations and South Korea have also moved to rebuild relations. Notably, in the United States, President Trump announced the lifting of sanctions in May 2025, leading to the issuance of an executive order instructing a general lifting of sanctions in June. In light of these changes, the Japanese government also approved a Cabinet decision on May 30 of the same year to partially lift measures such as asset freezes against individuals related to the Assad regime.

This courtesy call by the Charge d'Affaires is positioned within this sequence of breaking away from diplomatic isolation. Since Japan occupies a unique position in the Middle East, distinct from Western Europe, this visit is expected to serve as an opportunity for Japan to contribute to Syria's reconstruction in a way only Japan can.

Economic Cooperation for Reconstruction and Japanese Technology

Economically, serious conditions such as low GDP, inflation, and the depreciation of the Syrian pound persist due to years of conflict and sanctions. However, with the lifting of sanctions by Western countries, the situation is now entering a phase where future reconstruction is anticipated. Japan has previously provided ODA loans, grant aid, and technical cooperation; following this courtesy call, the relationship with Syria under the new regime can be said to be advancing to a new stage.

Japan possesses some of the world's leading technology, particularly in debris removal, and has extensive experience in reconstruction from earthquakes and other disasters. It will likely be able to leverage this experience to support Syria's recovery. In recent years, the Trump administration in the US has reduced international aid, and Western European nations have also decreased their contributions. Precisely for this reason, Japan is gradually increasing its presence in international cooperation. It is expected to take a leading role in Syria's reconstruction, contributing to the stabilization of the Middle East in place of the United States.

References

https://www.mofa.go.jp/mofaj/area/syria/data.html

https://www.mofa.go.jp/mofaj/press/release/pressit_000001_03127.html