Relationship dossier
Sweden
Syria
Relationship assessment
Relations were strained under Assad, amid Swedish support for the opposition and a Syrian diplomatic expulsion.
Sweden toward Syria
-35Sweden supported EU sanctions against the Syrian government under Bashar al-Assad and recognized the Syrian National Coalition as a legitimate representative of the Syrian people.
Syria toward Sweden
-25In 2012, Syria’s government declared Sweden’s ambassador persona non grata amid a wider diplomatic rupture with European states.
Overall relationship
-30The relationship was marked by Sweden’s support for measures opposing the Assad government and Syria’s expulsion of the Swedish ambassador in 2012. These adversarial features outweigh evidence of substantive bilateral cooperation in the period covered. The effect of Syria’s subsequent change of government on the enduring relationship is unclear.
How 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
Sweden supported EU sanctions against the Syrian government under Bashar al-Assad and recognized the Syrian National Coalition as a legitimate representative of the Syrian people. Syria’s government responded to the 2012 diplomatic rupture by declaring Sweden’s ambassador persona non grata. These actions point to strained relations during the Assad era; the scope and continuity of bilateral policy after Syria’s change of government are unclear.
Areas of tension
- Swedish support for EU sanctions against the Assad government
- Swedish recognition of the Syrian National Coalition
- Syria’s 2012 expulsion of the Swedish ambassador
Key developments
Sweden recognized the Syrian National Coalition as a legitimate representative of the Syrian people.
Syria declared Sweden’s ambassador persona non grata amid a wider diplomatic rupture with European states.
Major uncertainties
- The extent of bilateral cooperation under Syria’s post-Assad authorities is unclear.
- The current scope of Sweden’s sanctions and diplomatic engagement with Syria is uncertain.