Aaj Ki Janta

In a historic move, South Korea and Syria have officially established diplomatic relations, formalized on Thursday during a ceremony in Damascus between South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul and Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani.

Minister Cho emphasized South Korea’s willingness to assist in Syria’s post-war recovery, offering business investment and humanitarian aid. The partnership comes as Syria continues to grapple with the aftermath of a 13-year civil war. Cho stated that Seoul was committed to supporting Syria’s reconstruction efforts and long-term stability.

Al-Shaibani, on his part, expressed hope that South Korea would advocate for the easing of international sanctions imposed on Syria, a country still facing internal conflict and economic strain months after the overthrow of former President Bashar al-Assad. A transitional government led by President al-Sharaa was sworn in on March 30, signaling a potential new chapter for the war-torn nation.

This diplomatic milestone follows talks initiated in February, culminating with approval from South Korea’s cabinet. It marks yet another major shift in Seoul’s foreign policy, especially notable given that both countries are navigating seismic political transitions.

In South Korea, President Yoon Suk-yeol was formally impeached last week, following a ruling by the Constitutional Court that upheld his controversial martial law declaration in December, which he justified by citing infiltration by “antistate” elements linked to North Korea. With Yoon ousted, the nation is now under an acting president, with snap elections scheduled for June.

With this new alliance, Seoul now maintains diplomatic ties with all 191 United Nations member states, including the Holy See in Rome. The move follows a similarly unexpected decision last year to normalize relations with Cuba, a close ally of North Korea, after decades of distance.