Denmark reopened its embassy in Damascus after a 14-year closure, becoming one of the first EU states to restore a posted ambassador to Syria since the fall of former president Bashar al-Assad, Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen said on August 31.

The move puts migration at the centre of the diplomatic thaw between the two countries, which have had little contact in the years of mass migration during the 2010s and the Syrian war. Copenhagen, host to one of Europe's larger Syrian refugee populations, tied the reopening to cooperation on the voluntary return and forced removal of Syrians who no longer have the right to reside in Denmark, the Danish Foreign Ministry said, alongside efforts to shape the country's reconstruction.

Denmark, which announced the plan on January 30, has posted its first ambassador to Syria since 2012. Until the reopening, its embassy in Lebanon handled Syria-related affairs.

Rasmussen said Denmark remained committed to supporting Syria, with an additional $76mn allocated this year for early recovery, stabilisation and refugee returns.

Denmark expects to commit about DKK489mn ($76mn) to Syria in 2026 across humanitarian aid, stabilisation and migration measures, according to the Danish Foreign Ministry, which is weighing a multi-year development programme from 2027.

The reopening ceremony was attended by Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Hassan al-Shaibani, who described it as a new chapter in Syrian-Danish relations that could encourage other European countries to invest in Syria, SANA reported.

Rasmussen and al-Shaibani held further talks at Tishreen Palace in Damascus on September 1, focusing on early recovery and reconstruction. Al-Shaibani called on Danish companies to explore investment in renewable energy, water, agriculture and maritime transport, and pressed to move the Syrian-Danish Business Council from agreement into practical cooperation.

Direct flights between Damascus and Copenhagen are scheduled to begin on September 21, al-Shaibani said, adding that the route would support the Syrian community in Denmark.

Rasmussen also met President Ahmad al-Sharaa in Damascus on August 31, in talks on bilateral relations and Syria's reconstruction. The reopening adds to a broader return of European diplomatic engagement with Damascus, though the extent of normalisation varies between countries.