At COP30 in Brazil, Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani met Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa and FM Hassan al-Shaibani, signalling Italy’s deepening engagement with post-Assad Syria. This comes at a moment when several nations, led by the United States, are working to reopen relations with Damascus.

The talks mark Rome’s bid to combine political normalisation with economic re-entry — emphasising investments rather than aid — and to position Italy as a key European interlocutor in the region’s stabilisation.

What’s happening:

Diplomatic revival: Minister Tajani reaffirmed Italy’s role “in supporting Syria’s stability and an inclusive political process,” with particular focus on protecting Christian communities.
Cultural diplomacy: On October 29, Italy became the first country to resume archaeological missions in Syria, with a joint team working at Tell Simhani near Latakia.

A twinning agreement between Palmyra and Paestum – the first of the post-Assad era – was signed to foster cultural and tourism cooperation.

Economic push: Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced joint efforts to revive economic relations through Italian business expertise, especially in infrastructure and heritage restoration.

The economic pivot. President al-Sharaa’s new economic doctrine rejects “aid dependency” and promotes foreign investment as the driver of reconstruction.

$28 billion in foreign capital entered Syria in the first half of 2025, spurred by new laws that eased fund transfers and offered tax incentives.
The French group Accor plans to open 15 hotels by 2031; regional carriers — Emirates, Qatar Airways, Turkish Airlines, flynas, flyadeal — have resumed flights to Damascus.
A “business-friendly” reform package includes banking transparency, license simplification, and incentives for Italian and Turkish firms in infrastructure and airport reconstruction.
Energy and strategy:

Syria’s energy recovery is central to its economic narrative
Oil output has reached 1 million barrels/day, while natural gas production stands at 40 million cubic meters/day, exceeding domestic demand.
The government is courting partnerships for offshore gas exploration and desert fields, offering joint venture opportunities to investors from Europe and the Gulf.

Big picture: Syria’s postwar reintegration hinges on regional economic realignment:

Damascus is tightening ties with Saudi Arabia, showcased by al-Sharaa’s participation in FII 2025 in Riyadh.
New accords are beginning with Turkey, Qatar, the UAE, Bahrain, Jordan, and even U.S. companies, pointing to a pragmatic pivot away from past alliances with Iran and Russia.
For Italy, this creates an entry point for selective engagement — economic where feasible, humanitarian where necessary.

Zoom in: The U.N. Security Council voted on Thursday to lift sanctions on President Ahmad al-Sharaa and members of his government just days before his historic visit to White House on Monday. The U.S.-sponsored resolution passed with 14 votes in favour and a single abstention from China — a symbolic gesture underscoring Beijing’s cautious stance toward Syria’s reintegration (with an anti-West narrative?).

American officials framed the move as recognising “a new era” for Syria following the fall of Bashar al-Assad in December 2024. Damascus hailed the vote as proof of growing confidence in al-Sharaa’s leadership.

Zoom out: According to Reuters, the U.S. is preparing to establish a military presence near Damascus, potentially linked to a non-aggression pact between Israel and Syria being brokered by the Trump administration.

Washington views this as part of a broader strategic realignment in the Levant, signalling the formal end of Syria’s isolation.
A White House meeting between President Trump and al-Sharaa — the first ever by a Syrian head of state — is set for Monday.

It would symbolise Syria’s return to the international stage — and open a new diplomatic space for European actors, such as Italy.

Why it matters: Italy’s calibrated re-engagement with Syria reflects a broader Mediterranean strategy:

Combine cultural diplomacy with economic presence.
Support regional stabilisation without direct political alignment.
Anchor Italy’s role as a bridge between Europe, the Levant, and the Gulf — in a moment when Damascus is rewriting its place in the postwar Middle East.

(Photo: X, @antonio_tajani)