UNIPA News|| Bagdad 29 June-Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein arrived in Syria on Monday for his first official visit since the ouster of former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in December 2024, signaling Baghdad’s efforts to strengthen political, security and economic ties with Syria’s new leadership.

During the visit, Hussein is scheduled to meet Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa, Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani and Energy Minister Mohammad al-Bashir. According to Iraq’s Foreign Ministry, the talks will focus on expanding cooperation across political, security, economic and trade sectors, while addressing regional and international developments.

The discussions are also expected to explore ways to enhance coordination and consultation on shared security and regional challenges.

Relations between Iraq and Syria have undergone significant changes since the fall of Assad, who maintained close ties with previous Iraqi governments. While Baghdad initially approached Syria’s new administration with caution, it has increasingly moved to deepen engagement as Syria continues its post-war recovery.

Economic cooperation has also expanded in recent months. Iraq has begun exporting limited quantities of oil through Syria following disruptions to its traditional export routes caused by the US-Israel war on Iran.

The visit comes as both countries continue restoring cross-border connectivity. In April, Iraq reopened a key border crossing with Syria after more than a decade of closure, bringing the total number of operational crossings between the two countries to three. Iraqi authorities view the crossings as strategically important for regional trade and infrastructure links connecting Iraq and Gulf states with Türkiye.