Relationship dossier
Italy
Syria
Relationship assessment
Italy’s ties with the Syrian government were strained by the conflict, with a later Italian move toward renewed diplomatic engagement.
Italy toward Syria
-35Italy supported EU sanctions on the Syrian government and suspended its diplomatic presence in Damascus in 2012. In 2024, Italy appointed an ambassador to Syria, indicating an effort to reopen diplomatic engagement.
Syria toward Italy
Not assessedInformation about specific Syrian government cooperation or other conduct toward Italy is insufficient to assess the relationship.
Overall relationship
Not assessedHow to read these scores
Scores are rough judgments, not objective measurements or current verification. Directional scores describe government policy and conduct, not public opinion. The overall score is an independent estimate, never an average.
- −100
- Extreme sustained hostility
- −50
- Substantially adversarial
- 0
- Mixed or neutral, supported by knowledge
- +50
- Substantially cooperative
- +100
- Exceptionally close sustained partnership
“Not assessed” means there is no recorded score. Pair existence makes no claim about diplomatic recognition or established relations.
Relationship context
Overview
Italy’s relations with the Syrian government became sharply strained during the Syrian conflict. Italy supported EU sanctions and suspended its diplomatic presence in Damascus in 2012. In 2024, Italy appointed an ambassador to Syria, signaling an effort to re-engage. Information about the Syrian government’s specific conduct toward Italy is insufficient to assess that government’s policy independently.
Areas of tension
- Italy’s support for EU sanctions on the Syrian government during the Syrian conflict.
- The suspension of Italy’s diplomatic presence in Damascus in 2012.
Key developments
Italy suspended its diplomatic presence in Damascus amid the Syrian conflict.
Italy appointed an ambassador to Syria as part of an effort to renew diplomatic engagement.
Major uncertainties
- The scope and implementation of Italy’s renewed diplomatic engagement with Syria are unclear.
- Specific Syrian government actions toward Italy, beyond the wider diplomatic dispute, are unclear.