G.O.P. Lawmakers Make Historic Visit to Post-Civil War Syria

On a significant diplomatic mission, two U.S. lawmakers seek to establish connections with Syria’s new government following a tumultuous civil war.

On April 18, 2025, Republican congressmen Cory Mills of Florida and Marlin Stutzman of Indiana made a landmark visit to Damascus, marking the first time U.S. lawmakers have journeyed to Syria in several years. This visit comes on the heels of a political transformation within the country, where new leadership is taking shape after the ousting of Bashar al-Assad.

Described as a fact-finding mission, the congressmen were joined by members of the Syrian expatriate community from America. Their itinerary included meetings with Syria's newly elected president, Ahmed al-Shara, and various government ministers. The trip aims to bolster understanding and relations between the U.S. and the evolving Syrian political landscape.

In addition to governmental discussions, the lawmakers are scheduled to engage with local religious leaders, particularly representatives from Syria's Christian minority, and explore the remnants of the country’s storied history in old Damascus and its suburbs. They will also pay a visit to the infamous Sednaya prison, a site notorious for human rights abuses during the Assad regime.

The visit was orchestrated by the Syrian American Alliance for Peace and Prosperity, a nonprofit organization advocating for the re-establishment of ties between the United States and Syria’s new government, as highlighted by Dr. Tarek Kteleh, a member of the alliance accompanying the congressmen on this pivotal trip.

As the world watches, the outcome of this visit could potentially influence future U.S.-Syria relations amidst a challenging period of reconstruction and reconciliation following nearly 14 years of civil conflict.