Germany has reopened its embassy in Syria, marking the resumption of diplomatic relations with Damascus following changes in the country’s leadership. The decision comes as Syria faces severe humanitarian issues and security challenges after the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime, replaced by rebel forces led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS).
German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock oversaw the reopening during her visit to Syria’s capital, Damascus. According to her delegation, the embassy will initially operate with a small political team on the ground, with plans to expand depending on the evolving situation in Syria.
Due to security concerns and limited capacity, consular services and visa processing will continue to be managed by Germany’s embassy in Beirut, Lebanon.
Earlier this year, Baerbock met with Syria’s new de facto leader, Ahmed al-Sharaa. Despite these diplomatic efforts, Syria remains in a fragile state, with recent clashes between Assad’s loyal forces and new rulers causing over 1,000 civilian deaths, according to war monitoring organizations.
