Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam meets Syrian leader Ahmed al-Sharaa to rebuild ties

Salam’s visit to Damascus marks a pivotal step in mending strained Lebanese-Syrian relations after years of political turmoil.

Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam (left) meets with Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa (right) during an official visit in Damascus, Syria, on April 14, 2025. Photo by Izettin Kasim/Anadolu

By Anna Fadiah and Hayu Andini

Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam meets Syrian leader Ahmed al-Sharaa in Damascus on Monday during a high-stakes diplomatic mission intended to rebuild ties between Lebanon and Syria. This marks the most senior Lebanese delegation to visit the Syrian capital since Salam’s government came to power in February. The visit included Lebanon’s foreign, defence, and interior ministers and symbolized the beginning of a new chapter in the long and complicated history between the two neighboring countries.

For years, ties between Beirut and Damascus have been fractured, defined by political manipulation, cross-border violence, and the ongoing refugee crisis. With the overthrow of Bashar al-Assad by an Islamist-led alliance, Lebanon’s new leadership has taken steps to reset its relationship with Syria’s interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa and his administration. The meeting is seen as a critical first move toward diplomatic normalization and practical cooperation after decades of Syrian interference in Lebanese affairs.

Turning the page on a tense past

During his meeting with Sharaa and Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani, Salam extended a formal invitation for them to visit Beirut. His office released a statement describing the discussions as “the beginning of a new page in the course of relations between the two countries based on mutual respect.” He emphasized principles of trust, sovereignty, and non-interference—an unmistakable message given Syria’s longstanding dominance over Lebanon’s internal politics throughout the latter half of the 20th century.

The tone of Salam’s message was conciliatory yet firm. “We want to build a relationship of equals,” the statement read, “where cooperation replaces coercion and dialogue replaces decades of distrust.” This balanced approach acknowledges the past without letting it dictate the future—a move widely seen as a pragmatic step forward.

While the optics of Salam’s visit carry historical significance, the substance of the talks focused heavily on practical matters. Chief among them were issues surrounding the porous Lebanon-Syria border, long a conduit for smuggling and illegal crossings. With over 330 kilometers of largely unmonitored frontier between the two nations, both governments have struggled to curtail the flow of weapons, contraband, and unauthorized migrants.

Recent violent clashes along the border, which left at least 10 people dead, have heightened the urgency. In response, Lebanese and Syrian defence ministers signed a preliminary agreement last month in Saudi Arabia aimed at addressing mutual threats and stabilizing the frontier. Monday’s meeting in Damascus advanced those efforts further, with the two sides agreeing to strengthen security cooperation and jointly demarcate both land and maritime boundaries.

A follow-up committee was announced, comprising representatives from the foreign, defence, interior, and justice ministries. Their mandate will include not only monitoring the border but also pursuing shared interests in law enforcement and regional stability.

Another pressing topic was the future of the estimated 1.5 million Syrian refugees currently residing in Lebanon. With Lebanon’s ongoing economic collapse and political instability, many Lebanese citizens see the refugee presence as unsustainable. In response, Salam’s delegation sought assurances from Damascus on facilitating the “safe and dignified” return of these individuals.

The return process, according to Salam’s office, must take place under the supervision of the United Nations and with support from the international community. Damascus, for its part, expressed openness to such arrangements—though skepticism remains among human rights groups over the safety of returnees, given past reports of persecution.

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Also discussed were the fates of Lebanese nationals believed to be detained or disappeared in Syria during the Assad era. The delegation formally requested Syrian assistance in identifying and resolving these cases, many of which remain painful wounds for Lebanese families. Simultaneously, Syria pressed for the release of Syrian detainees held in Lebanese prisons. The mutual exchanges hinted at an emerging willingness to address deeply sensitive issues that have long stalled meaningful bilateral progress.

Historical backdrop of mistrust

The Lebanese Prime Minister’s visit cannot be separated from the legacy of Syrian intervention in Lebanon. From the start of Lebanon’s civil war in 1975 until the withdrawal of Syrian troops in 2005, Damascus played an outsized role in Beirut’s internal affairs. The murder of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafic Hariri in 2005, widely attributed to Syrian-aligned actors, prompted nationwide protests and ultimately forced Syria to end its military presence in Lebanon.

The shadow of that history still looms large. Salam’s outreach to Sharaa represents the first high-level Lebanese overture to Syria since the fall of the Assad regime. In January, former Prime Minister Najib Mikati visited Damascus, but that meeting lacked the formality and scope of Salam’s initiative. Monday’s visit, therefore, marks a tangible shift in tone and ambition.

Notably, Sharaa himself has sought to reposition Syria as a non-interfering neighbor. In a December speech, he promised that Damascus would “respect Lebanon’s sovereignty” and “not negatively interfere in its domestic affairs.” While critics remain wary of Syria’s true intentions, the rhetoric suggests a potential softening of Damascus’s approach.

As Salam returns to Beirut, the success of his mission will be measured not only by diplomatic statements but also by actions taken in the weeks and months ahead. The formation of the joint committee, the reopening of dialogue on the fate of detainees, and concrete progress on border security are all key indicators of whether this effort at rapprochement can bear fruit.

Rebuilding Lebanon-Syria relations is no small task. It involves navigating a legacy of distrust, addressing complex humanitarian issues, and realigning strategic priorities in a region marked by volatility. Still, Salam’s willingness to take the first step—and Sharaa’s reciprocal openness—suggest that both nations may be ready to move past their troubled history.

In the context of regional diplomacy, Salam’s visit sends a signal to the broader Arab world that Lebanon is willing to engage constructively with its neighbors, even after years of upheaval. Whether that message resonates in Damascus and beyond will depend on what comes next.

For now, however, the headline stands: Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam meets Syrian leader Ahmed al-Sharaa—a moment that may mark the start of a new era in Lebanese-Syrian relations.