Riyadh (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said that sanctions against Syrian officials responsible for war offenses must remain in place but urged a smart strategy to provide relief to the Syrian population.
German foreign minister arrived in the Saudi capital ahead of the session with Syria’s new foreign minister, Asaad Hassan Al-Shibani. She backed continued sanctions on individuals connected to Assad’s regime. Baerbock proposed a “smart approach” to sanctions to provide relief for the Syrian population. “Our goal is to balance accountability for past crimes while addressing the urgent humanitarian needs of the Syrian people,” Baerbock briefed journalists.
What role will Germany play in Syria’s political transition?
Germany has been actively engaging with Syria since the recent political change in the country, especially after the fall of Bashar al-Assad. On January 3, 2025, Baerbock visited Damascus, accompanied by French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot.
It was the first official visit of European ministers after the regime change. The intention was to convey what the EU expects regarding the political transition in Syria: inclusive and respecting minority rights. Baerbock stated that it is clear that Europe is available to assist Syria but will not sanction new Islamist structures of governance.
She met with the leader of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, Ahmad al-Sharaa, and representatives of civil society. She insisted that a political transition would be successful only when all ethnic and religious groups in Syria participated and were committed to reconciliation and reconstruction efforts.
Germany has been the biggest contributor in humanitarian aid to Syria since its civil war erupted, contributing to more than €10 billion in aid by 2022. It is still trying to aid the refugees, as well as those inside Syria, proving that Germany has not given up on humanitarian contributions even in a political scenario such as this one.
