The Syrian case
The Syrian case represents a major challenge for the OPCW, particularly because of the recurrent use of chemical weapons during the conflict that has been going on since 2011. Syria, a signatory state to the CWC since 2013, has been repeatedly accused of using chemical weapons against its own population. The outlook for the OPCW in this context is as follows:
- The role of the OPCW in Syria: In 2013, after an alleged chemical attack in Eastern Ghouta, Syria signed the Chemical Weapons Convention and agreed to destroy its chemical arsenal. The OPCW, in collaboration with the United Nations (UN), oversaw this destruction. However, the international community has identified possible gaps and irregularities in the declaration of chemical stockpiles.
- On 29 April 2014, the Director General of the OPCW set up a Syrian Declaration Assessment Team (the DAT: Déclaration Assessment Team [1] ), which is a multidisciplinary team made up of experts from the OPCW Technical Secretariat. The DAT’s mandate is to verify the accuracy and completeness of the declarations submitted by the Syrian Arab Republic. The DAT exchanges with the competent authorities of the Syrian Arab Republic on the gaps, inconsistencies and discrepancies identified by the Technical Secretariat in Syria’s initial declaration (2013) regarding its chemical weapons programme. The TSF regularly reports to OPCW Member States and other international bodies. Nevertheless, regular allegations of chemical weapons use have persisted, particularly in 2017 and 2018.
- The OPCW also acquired another capability on the same 29 April 2014, by creating the OPCW Fact-Finding Mission (FFM : Fact-Finding Mission [2]), which is responsible for determining whether toxic chemicals were used as weapons in the Syrian Arab Republic. Its mandate does not include identifying those responsible for the alleged attacks.
- On the basis of the FFM’s findings, it is the OPCW’s Investigation and Identification Team (IIT : Investigation and Identification Team [3]), established on 27 June 2018, which is collecting and analysing evidence that could help identify the perpetrators of the chemical weapons attacks in Syria (as the OPCW-UN Joint Investigative Mechanism (JIM) previously did).
- The OPCW’s limitations in the face of accusations and violations : One of the OPCW’s major challenges in the Syrian context lies in the repeated accusations of the use of chemical weapons by Bashar al-Assad’s regime. Although the OPCW has confirmed certain chemical attacks (such as the Khan Sheikhoun attack in 2017), limited access to certain areas, the Syrian government’s opposition to certain inspections, and geopolitical complexity make investigations difficult. The OPCW faces considerable political obstacles, notably because of the Russian veto in the UN Security Council, which protects the Syrian regime.
Is the visit of the OPCW Director General to Syria a turning point in relations between Syria and the OPCW?
- The impact of the fall of Bashar al-Assad: Bashar al-Assad’s power collapsed on Sunday 08 December 2024 following an offensive by armed rebel groups. Following the fall of Bashar al-Assad, it is possible that the dynamics of the Syrian civil war and Syria’s position vis-à-vis the CWC will change. Political transition could lead to a renewal of commitments to the international community, including greater cooperation with the OPCW to ensure the complete destruction of chemical weapons stockpiles, if this has not already been done. On the other hand, such a transition could also give rise to new tensions, notably due to the involvement of external actors with diverging interests, not to mention the risk of proliferation of undeclared chemical weapons, as indicated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs .[1] [4]
- Visit of the OPCW Director General to Syria on 08 February 2025: Following the fall of Bashar al-Assad, a new transitional government has been set up for a period of three months. Ahmed al-Charaa has been appointed “president for the transitional phase” and is tasked with forming an “interim legislative council”, after announcing the dissolution of parliament and the freezing of the 2012 Constitution. At the invitation of Syria’s interim foreign minister, the Director-General of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), Ambassador Fernando Arias, has just travelled to Damascus to meet Ahmad al-Sharaa and the interim foreign minister, Asaad Hassan al-Shaibani. This visit marks a first step towards re-establishing a direct working relationship between the OPCW Technical Secretariat and Syria, after eleven years of stagnation and lack of progress with the former authorities. “This visit marks a new beginning. After eleven years of obstruction by the previous authorities, the interim Syrian authorities have the opportunity to turn the page and meet Syria’s obligations under the Convention”, said Director General Arias[2] [5] . Let us hope that this visit will lay new foundations for transparent and effective collaboration aimed at bringing the Syrian chemical weapons issue to a definitive close, which will ensure regional stability and maintain international security.
Conclusion
The future of the OPCW depends on the continuation of its missions of verification, prevention of proliferation and response to violations. With regard to Syria, the organisation finds itself at a critical crossroads, between the need to ensure the complete destruction of chemical weapons stockpiles and complex geopolitical and diplomatic challenges. In the political transition led by the new administration of the Syrian Arab Republic, the OPCW could play a central role in rebuilding international confidence, which has been eroded since the OPCW was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2013 for “its significant efforts to eliminate chemical weapons”, particularly in Syria.
[1] [6] Syria – Chemical weapons (12.12.24) – Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs [7]
[2] [8] OPCW Director-General visits Syria; meets with Syrian caretaker authorities to discuss next steps in eliminating Syria’s chemical weapons programme | OPCW [9]