On 29 October, the Syrian Arab Republic officially recognised Kosovo as an independent and sovereign state, after a trilateral meeting in Riyadh brokered by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
This development marks a turning point in Syria’s foreign policy. The Syrian Transitional Government, led by Ahmed al-Sharaa, has reversed Syria’s longstanding stance on the political status of Kosovo, a breakaway, partially recognised republic in the Balkans claimed by Serbia. Under the Assad regime, Syria had been a firm supporter of Serbia’s position on the issue and had repeatedly refused to recognise Kosovo’s independence. With Syria’s recognition, 120 countries now acknowledge the Republic of Kosovo.
This reversal is not accidental; it rather reflects the influence of Syria’s new regional backers. According to Asaad Hassan Al-Shaibani, Syria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, this recognition was a Saudi initiative, substantially supported by Turkey. Following the fall of the Assad regime, Turkey and Saudi Arabia have emerged as the two main patrons of the new Syrian government, and their growing involvement has played a decisive role in shaping Damascus’ diplomatic choices.
To understand their role, it is worth recalling that both countries have maintained a strongly pro-Kosovo stance dating back to the 1998-1999 Kosovo War. The Republic of Kosovo declared independence in 2008 and soon received recognition and support from several Western and Muslim-majority countries, including Saudi Arabia and Turkey. Both states portray themselves as leaders of the Sunni Muslim world and have consistently advocated for Kosovo’s independence.
Despite Saudi Arabia’s attempts to promote conservative branches of Islam, Kosovo has remained secular, both in terms of its state institutions and societal norms. Nevertheless, these ideological differences have not hindered cooperation nor prevented the constant strengthening of bilateral ties. This partnership ultimately led Saudi Arabia to facilitate talks between Syria and Kosovo, and add another name to the list of countries that recognise Kosovo.
Saudi Arabia has been expanding its influence and diplomatic presence in the Middle East and beyond by leading or facilitating several major peace and mediation initiatives. Notable examples include hosting a United States–Russia Summit, co-sponsoring an International Conference on implementing the Two-State Solution in Israel/Palestine, participating in efforts to mediate a ceasefire in Sudan, and supporting Syria’s efforts toward regional and international reintegration. The Saudi Arabia–Syria–Kosovo Summit fits within this broader framework and can be described as a diplomatic success of Riyadh.
As noted earlier, Saudi Arabia and Turkey undoubtedly hold considerable influence over al-Sharaa’s Syrian Transitional Government and its foreign policy. Syria’s recognition of Kosovo, however, despite being part of a Saudi-led initiative, also underscores Damascus’s evolving foreign policy direction.
Recognising Kosovo improves Syria’s image in the global arena, given Kosovo’s traditional support from key Western actors such as the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, and the European Union. Despite recent Western dissatisfaction with some of Kosovo’s domestic policies, Western powers have not changed their policy of recognising Kosovo. At the same time, this decision represents a clear step away from the previous regime’s foreign policy, which had been closely aligned with Russian and Iranian interests.
Beyond external considerations, internal political factors also help explain this diplomatic move. The Syrian leadership can satisfy its Islamist support base by standing alongside a fellow Muslim nation. This recognition could serve domestic legitimacy efforts, especially after al-Sharaa took policy directions that have disappointed some of his radical Islamist supporters, many of whom previously fought within Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS). Moreover, during the Syrian civil war, a group of Albanian radical Islamists known as Xhemati Alban fought alongside HTS against the group’s rivals. The unit consisted mostly of Albanians from Albania and Kosovo. Thus, acknowledging Kosovo means supporting some of the people that expressed support for HTS.
In conclusion, Syria’s recognition of Kosovo marks a geopolitical and symbolic shift for Damascus. From a policy perspective, this development reflects a broader regional realignment in which emerging Arab and Muslim powers, such as Saudi Arabia, are leveraging diplomacy and conflict mediation to consolidate influence. For Syria, the decision positions the transitional government as an outward-looking actor intent on moving beyond its former alliances, while signalling a renewed engagement in global affairs.
