The United States has declared that it does not recognise any governing authority in Syria, and has accordingly downgraded the legal status of Syria’s mission to the United Nations.
A US State Department spokesperson confirmed that the change is part of an “administrative procedure” aligning with current US policy. The Syrian mission will now be treated as a representation of a government not officially recognised by Washington.
Despite the downgrade, the US clarified that accredited members of the Syrian Permanent Mission to the UN retain their existing privileges. The move follows a reclassification of visa types for Syrian diplomats from G1—typically granted to representatives of recognised governments—to G3, which is issued to envoys of unrecognised states.
The Syrian Foreign Ministry, quoted by state-run SANA, called the shift purely technical and insisted it does not reflect a change in position toward the recently formed transitional government in Damascus.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres responded to the development, emphasizing that Syria remains a full UN member and its representation at the UN is unchanged. He noted that recognition of governments is a bilateral matter, separate from the UN Charter’s framework for membership.
Transition in Syria
Commenting on Syria’s political transition, State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce expressed hope that the newly formed transitional government would lead to a more inclusive and representative state.
Speaking at a Tuesday press conference, Bruce said, “We expect the Syrian government to uphold human rights and adhere to international standards of governance. We’re watching to see if it delivers on those expectations.”
HTS leader Ahmad al-Sharaa, took control of the presidency following the ousting of Bashar al-Assad, has urged Western nations to lift sanctions and support the country’s rebuilding efforts.
