The recognition comes as the transitional president al-Sharaa welcomed the German foreign minister to Damascus. Kosovo has also been connecting with Saudi Arabia and other countries in the region.
Syria recognized Kosovo on Wednesday, another step in its efforts to align itself with the West. According to reports, Kosovo welcomed Syria’s recognition as a move of historic significance. This comes after Kosovo has done outreach to Saudi Arabia and other countries in the region.
The recognition also comes as Syrian transitional president Ahmad al-Shara’a welcomed German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul to Damascus. The German minister came with a large delegation, Syrian state media SANA said. Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Hassan al-Shaibani also attended the meeting.
During their discussions, the two sides reviewed Syria-Germany relations, focusing on ways to strengthen cooperation in political, economic, and humanitarian fields. They also exchanged views on recent regional and international developments of mutual interest,” SANA reported.
The agency also noted the recognition of Kosovo: “The Syrian Arab Republic has officially recognized the Republic of Kosovo as an independent and sovereign state, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates announced Wednesday, following a trilateral meeting in Riyadh that included officials from Syria, Saudi Arabia, and Kosovo.”
The report noted that “the decision followed a trilateral meeting in Riyadh that brought together senior officials from Syria, Saudi Arabia, and Kosovo. Discussions focused on strengthening mutual understanding and exploring avenues for bilateral cooperation, including the question of diplomatic recognition.”
Syria’s interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa at the presidential palace, in Damascus, Syria, March 10, 2025 (credit: REUTERS/KHALIL ASHAWI)
Riyadh was clearly an important part of getting this deal done. In a statement, the Syrian foreign ministry said the decision reflects “Syria’s consistent support for the right of peoples to self-determination” and its “commitment to promoting peace and stability in the Balkans and globally.”
“The Republic of Kosovo wholeheartedly welcomes the recognition from Syria and the statement by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on the mutual recognition between the Republic of Kosovo and the Syrian Arab Republic,” Kosovo President Vjosa Osmani wrote on X.
She said Kosovo had “deep gratitude for the decision by the Syrian Arab Republic to recognize Kosovo’s independence, and we thank President Ahmed al-Sharaa for his leadership and his support for the people of Kosovo…This truly is a decision of historic significance between the two states, based on mutual respect for the long struggle for freedom, mutual recognition of sovereignty, territorial integrity, and commitment to bilateral cooperation and establishment of diplomatic relations,” the Kosovo president said.
Syria said it “looks forward to establishing diplomatic relations with Kosovo as soon as possible and developing bilateral cooperation in political, economic, and cultural fields to serve the shared interests of both countries and their peoples.” Kosovo is recognized by 120 countries. The US and NATO backed Kosovo’s independence and used the bombing of Serbia to accomplish it in the late 1990s. It took years for Kosovo to achieve recognition by many countries. Kosovo is also a friend of Israel.
Kosovo’s entry into Middle East diplomacy
Meanwhile, Kosovo’s President Vjosa Osmani had been in Saudi Arabia last week. She spoke during a visit to Riyadh for the 9th edition of the Future Investment Initiative. She spoke about cooperation between Saudi Arabia and Kosovo.
“Kosovo’s participation marks a valuable chance to forge business links, attract investment, and exchange expertise with the Kingdom, which she described as ‘one of the global leaders when it comes to technology advancement and AI,’” Arab madia noted.
This is an important move for Syria and illustrates how Riyadh plays a key role in aiding Syria as it emerges economically after the fall of the Assad regime. Kosovo is also showing how it is increasing its ties to the Middle East. Kosovo is a largely Muslim country. It is composed largely of Albanians with some Serbs and other minority groups.