Guterres to visit Damascus to revive UN efforts in 1st Syria visit by UN chief since 2009

UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ expected visit to Damascus on Friday, according to local media reports, marks a significant diplomatic development in relations between the United Nations and Syria.

The visit is the first by a UN secretary-general to Damascus since 2009, when former UN chief Ban Ki-moon visited the country.

Guterres’ program includes official talks with Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa and Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani, as well as meetings with representatives of civil society and local community institutions.

The visit also includes a field tour to inspect the UN Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF), stationed in the occupied Syrian Golan Heights, as part of efforts to monitor commitments under the ceasefire agreement.

Guterres’ visit to Damascus represents a significant shift in UN relations with Syria after a 17-year gap.

The UN’s return to the heart of Syria is not merely a protocol stop but the beginning of a political and UN-level engagement framework that brings the Syrian state back into direct international dialogue.

It also moves the Syrian file from crisis management through special envoys to the highest leadership level within the international organization.

The first significance of the visit lies in providing UN support for the new transitional phase and emphasizing the principles of Syrian sovereignty and territorial integrity.

The expected meeting between Guterres and the Syrian leadership, represented by al-Sharaa and al-Shaibani, also sends a political message to regional and international powers that the UN recognizes official state institutions as key partners in managing the political track, potentially helping accelerate the easing of Damascus’ international diplomatic isolation.

Ban Ki-moon was the last UN secretary-general to visit Syria in 2009, giving Guterres’ expected visit added political significance amid the transitional phase the country has witnessed since the fall of the former regime in December 2024.

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On the field and security levels, Guterres’ tour to inspect UNDOF forces in the occupied Syrian Golan carries strategic significance.

Amid rising regional tensions, the UN chief is again highlighting the importance of the Golan file, the need for all parties to adhere to ceasefire agreements and relevant UN resolutions, and the UN’s role in upholding international legitimacy.

The Security Council established UNDOF on May 31, 1974, under Resolution 350 to monitor the ceasefire and supervise implementation of the disengagement agreement between Syria and Israel.