Syrian President Holds High-Level Talks with Lebanese Prime Minister in Damascus

By Kardo Roj 

DAMASCUS, Syria (North Press) – Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam arrived in Damascus on Monday for a high-profile meeting with Syria’s transitional president, Ahmad al-Shara, marking a notable moment in bilateral relations between the two neighboring countries.

The visit, accompanied by a Lebanese ministerial delegation, is the first of its kind under Syria’s transitional administration and signals renewed efforts to normalize ties amid regional shifts.

Both the Lebanese Prime Minister’s Office and the Syrian presidency released photographs of the meeting but refrained from disclosing the content of the discussions. The lack of detail has fueled speculation around the scope of the talks—ranging from economic cooperation and border security to refugee returns and electricity deals.

On Sunday, Salam announced his intention to visit Damascus, highlighting that the trip was aimed at “engaging directly with Syrian officials to discuss joint issues of national and regional importance.”

The visit follows a wave of diplomatic activity across the region that has included Syria’s re-engagement with the Arab League and an apparent easing of its international isolation. Lebanon, grappling with a deepening economic crisis and ongoing pressure over Syrian refugee issues, is seeking practical arrangements with Damascus amid its own political transition.

Observers see Salam’s outreach as pragmatic, particularly as both countries face overlapping economic, environmental, and security challenges—exacerbated by years of war and political instability.

Ahmad al-Shara, Syria’s transitional president since a UN-brokered roadmap was announced, has largely kept a low profile, focusing on internal stabilization and cautious engagement with the international community.

This meeting with Lebanon’s top official may mark one of his most visible diplomatic steps so far.