Germany reopens embassy in Syria amid post-Assad transition challenges

Germany reopened its embassy in Syria on Thursday, marking a significant diplomatic step in the war-torn country more than three months after the fall of President Bashar al-Assad.

Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock made the announcement during her second visit to Damascus since Assad’s ousting, coming just weeks after sectarian violence claimed more than 1,500 lives along Syria’s Mediterranean coast.

“The horrific outbreaks of violence two weeks ago have caused a massive loss of trust,” Baerbock said. “The targeted killing of civilians is a terrible crime.”

The reopened embassy, which had been closed since 2012 amid Syria’s civil war, will initially operate with a small diplomatic team. Consular affairs and visa services will continue to be handled from Beirut due to ongoing security concerns.

Germany’s substantial aid commitment to Syria

The embassy reopening follows Germany’s recent announcement of €300 million ($325 million) in reconstruction aid as part of a broader international donor conference that secured pledges totaling €5.8 billion.

More than half of the German funds will directly benefit Syrians and will be implemented without the involvement of the transitional government, focusing on food, health services, emergency shelters, and protection for vulnerable populations. The aid package extends to Syrian refugees and host communities in neighboring countries, including Jordan, Lebanon, Iraq, and Türkiye.

Germany’s conditional support for Syria

A German foreign ministry source emphasized that “Germany has a paramount interest in a stable Syria,” adding that a diplomatic presence would allow Berlin to “push for an inclusive political transition process that takes into account the interests of all population groups.”

Baerbock made it clear that a “new start” with Europe depends on Syria’s interim authorities ensuring security for all citizens regardless of faith, gender, or ethnicity.

“Many Syrians are scared that life in the future Syria will not be safe for all Syrians,” she said.

Regional complications

The transition faces additional regional challenges. Since Assad’s overthrow, Israel has conducted hundreds of strikes on military sites in Syria, claiming concerns about weapons falling into the hands of what it considers jihadists in the new government. Israeli forces have also deployed to a UN-patrolled buffer zone on the Golan Heights.

Baerbock addressed these tensions, stating that “the influence of foreign actors has brought nothing but chaos to Syria in the past,” and called on all sides to “exercise maximum military restraint and not to torpedo the intra-Syrian unification process.”

As the Syrian people walk through Damascus markets during Ramadan, the international community’s approach to Syria’s future remains cautious but committed.

“As Europeans, we stand together for the people of Syria, for a free and peaceful Syria,” Baerbock said.