Syrian President Ahmed al-Shar and Lebanese Prime Minister Naufal Salam met in Damascus to discuss several pending bilateral files [1].
This diplomatic engagement represents a significant shift in regional relations. The meeting is the first visit by a Lebanese Prime Minister to Damascus since 2010 [2].
Reports regarding the exact timing of the meeting vary. Some sources said the reception had already taken place [1], while others said the meeting was scheduled for Jan. 11, 2025 [2].
The two leaders focused their discussions on unresolved issues between the two neighboring countries. The agenda included a number of pending bilateral files that have remained stagnant for years [1].
Damascus has served as the site for this high-level diplomatic effort to restore formal coordination between the Syrian and Lebanese governments. The visit follows a long period of diplomatic distance between the leadership of both nations [2].
Neither official has released a detailed joint statement on the specific outcomes of the talks. However, the act of the Lebanese Prime Minister traveling to the Syrian capital signals a willingness to engage in direct dialogue to resolve shared concerns [1].
“The meeting is the first visit by a Lebanese Prime Minister to Damascus since 2010.”
The resumption of high-level diplomatic visits between Lebanon and Syria suggests a strategic effort to stabilize bilateral relations. By breaking a streak of absence that lasted since 2010, both governments are signaling a move toward pragmatic cooperation to address shared security and economic challenges.
