Czech Republic Reopens Embassy in Syria

The Czech Republic, which has represented US interests in Syria since 2012, has reopened its embassy in Damascus after a brief closure following the ousting of President Bashar al-Assad.

The embassy had been a key link for Western nations that closed their diplomatic missions during the Syrian civil war.

Foreign Minister Jan Lipavský confirmed the embassy’s reopening during the Christmas period. 

"Our mission in Damascus has resumed operations," he stated, adding that the US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, had recently reached out to ensure continued Czech diplomatic representation in Syria.

Lipavský emphasized the Czech Republic’s careful stance on Syria, noting that many members of the new Syrian administration remain subject to international sanctions due to their past actions.

However, he acknowledged the new government’s desire to re-establish global ties, saying, "We must respond to their call, particularly to push for the withdrawal of Russian forces from Syria."

Russian troops, which have been stationed in Syria since 2015 to support Assad's regime, remain a significant presence in the country.

The Czech Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced the appointment of diplomat Vítězslav Pivoňka as the chargé d'affaires in Damascus.

Pivoňka previously served as the Czech ambassador to Russia for six years, concluding his tenure in May 2024.

During his time in Moscow, Pivoňka navigated a tense period in Czech-Russian relations, marked by mutual expulsions of diplomats in 2021 after Prague accused Russia of involvement in a 2014 ammunition depot explosion that killed two people.