Explained: Who is Syria’s new Foreign Minister Bassam Sabbagh?

Bassam Sabbagh was appointed Syria’s foreign and expatriates minister on Sept. 23 by Prime Minister Mohammed Ghazi Jalali. An experienced diplomat, Sabbagh previously served as Syria’s permanent representative to the United Nations in New York and the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), holding several high-profile positions throughout his career.

Early education and diplomatic beginnings

Born on Jan. 1, 1969, in Aleppo, Syria, Sabbagh graduated from the University of Aleppo in 1993, specializing in international relations, and later obtained a Bachelor’s degree in political science from the Higher Institute for Political Science in Damascus in 1990. He started his diplomatic career as a desk officer at the Syrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 1994.

From 1995 to 2000, Sabbagh served as second secretary at the Syrian Embassy in Washington, D.C., before returning to Damascus, where he worked as the alternate director for the deputy minister for the foreign affairs office. His experience in high-level diplomatic roles soon expanded when he served as a counselor at the Syrian Permanent Mission to the U.N. in New York from 2001 to 2006.

Veteran diplomat

Between 2006 and 2010, Sabbagh became the chief of Cabinet for the foreign minister in Syria. His role solidified his experience in managing foreign relations during a time of increased international scrutiny of Syria.

From 2010 to 2020, Sabbagh represented Syria as ambassador to Austria and as non-resident ambassador to Slovakia and Slovenia. During this time, he also acted as Syria’s permanent representative to the U.N. Office in Vienna, and as resident representative to various international organizations including the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).

Permanent representative to OPCW

Sabbagh’s role as permanent representative to the OPCW from 2013 to 2020 was during a period of significant international attention to Syria’s chemical weapons program. His diplomatic activities in the Hague involved defending Syria’s stance on the chemical weapons issue.

UN role in New York

In 2020, Sabbagh was appointed as Syria’s permanent representative to the U.N. in New York, a post that allowed him to engage directly with key global players and promote Syria’s foreign policy at the highest level.

He addressed the General Debate of the U.N. General Assembly in 2023 and played a significant role in representing Syria on the global stage.

Appointment as foreign and expatriates minister

On Sept. 23, Sabbagh was appointed as Syria’s foreign and expatriate minister, a position where he will continue to shape and execute Syria’s foreign policy.

Sanctions and legal issues

In 2012, Sabbagh became subject to international sanctions under various legal frameworks due to his role in the Syrian regime.

He was sanctioned by several countries, including Canada and Switzerland, due to his reported involvement in financial support for the Syrian government and connections to real estate projects in Latakia, linked to prominent regime figures.

On Feb. 26, the General Court of the European Union annulled the EU sanctions listing of Sabbagh, who had been on the sanctions list since November 2011. The ruling came in Case T-652/11 Sabbagh v Council (judgment in French).

Sabbagh, head of a law firm in Damascus at that time and a lawyer at the Paris Bar, had been listed on the grounds that he advises Rami and Khaldoun Makhlouf, both cousins of President Bashar Assad. He was also linked to Assad through a real estate project and was accused of providing financial support to the Syrian regime.