Germany reopens embassy in Syria after 13-year closure: What we know

Beatrice Farhat

German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock (R) shakes hands with Syria's Minister of Foreign Affairs Asaad Hassan al-Shibani during their meeting on the sidelines of the 61st Munich Security Conference (MSC) in Munich, southern Germany on Feb. 15, 2025. — German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock (R) shakes hands with Syrian Minister of Foreign Affairs Asaad al-Shibani during their meeting on the sidelines of the 61st Munich Security Conference in Munich, southern Germany, on Feb. 15, 2025. — MICHAELA STACHE/AFP via Getty Images

Germany reopened its embassy in Damascus Thursday after a 13-year closure, becoming the latest country to restore diplomatic ties with Syria after the fall of the Assad regime amid a regional push for normalization.

The embassy was formally opened by German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock during her visit to the Syrian capital, the official German news agency DPA reported.

وزيرة الخارجية الألمانية أنالينا بيربوكت تزور حي #جوبر في #دمشق #فيديو pic.twitter.com/j4fJZXOcVX
— الجزيرة سوريا (@AJA_Syria) March 20, 2025

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Germany reopens embassy in Syria after 13-year closure: What we know

Berlin was a vocal critic of the Assad regime and after its fall, has repeatedly stressed the need to ensure the unity of Syria and equality between all of its components, including Kurds, Druze, Christians and Alawites.

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