Denmark is seeking an agreement with Syria to allow the return of Syrians without legal residency, including through forced deportations, as Copenhagen links progress on migration to wider economic and reconstruction cooperation with Damascus.
The push follows Danish Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen's visit to Syria on 31 August and the reopening of Denmark's embassy in Damascus after 14 years of closure.
Rasmussen said on Thursday that progress on migration cooperation, "including the issue of the forced deportation of Syrians who are not legally resident in Denmark", was important to Copenhagen before it concludes any wider agreement with Damascus.
Denmark is seeking to tie an agreement on returns to broader deals involving reconstruction as well as economic and trade cooperation, according to Danish news agency Ritzau.
The policy marks a significant shift in Copenhagen's approach to post-Assad Syria, placing the return of Syrian nationals at the centre of its developing relationship with the new authorities in Damascus.
The Danish government maintains that people without the legal right to remain in the country should return to their country of origin and that authorities should be able to forcibly deport those who refuse to leave voluntarily.
Rasmussen said that principle also applies to Syrians.
The approach, however, could put Copenhagen at odds with the new Syrian authorities, who have emphasised the voluntary and dignified return of Syrians, while Denmark wants Damascus to accept those subject to forced deportation.
Rasmussen stressed that any deportations would have to comply with Denmark's international obligations, including prohibitions on returning people to countries where they could face torture or the death penalty.
Denmark has been seeking to expand its presence in Syria following the fall of Bashar al-Assad in December 2024, including through greater economic and commercial cooperation.
Its reopened embassy is also expected to facilitate cooperation with Syrian authorities on both voluntary returns and the removal of Syrians who do not have the right to remain in Denmark.
Copenhagen is meanwhile preparing to provide substantial financial support to Syria, expected to reach around 500 million Danish kroner (€67 million, around $78.4 million) this year, potentially making Denmark one of the country's largest European financial supporters.
Denmark has provided hundreds of millions of kroner in humanitarian assistance and programmes aimed at promoting stability and peace in recent years and is now considering new commitments linked to reconstruction and development.
In return, Copenhagen hopes Damascus will cooperate in accepting some of the hundreds of Syrians living in Denmark who do not hold permanent legal residency.
The policy has raised concerns among Syrians in Denmark, particularly rejected asylum seekers, people who have received deportation orders and some temporary residency holders, who fear growing cooperation between Copenhagen and Damascus could increase pressure for them to return.
Large-scale returns would still depend on the Syrian authorities agreeing to receive those deported, making the agreement sought by Denmark crucial to turning its policy into practice.
Copenhagen argues that conditions have improved since Assad's fall, allowing more Syrians to return provided the new Syrian state is able to receive them and guarantee their safety.