Faeser and Karner Cancel Damascus Visit Over Terror Threat

German and Austrian interior ministers aborted their planned trip to Syria citing credible warnings of a potential terrorist attack.

Nancy Faeser and Gerhard Karner canceled their March 27 visit to Damascus due to specific intelligence of a terrorist threat, as confirmed by German security authorities.
The trip aimed to discuss refugee returns, deportation of Syrian criminals, and security cooperation with Syria's transitional government.
The security situation in Syria remains highly unstable, complicating international engagement and refugee policy efforts.
Germany recently reopened its embassy in Damascus, signaling cautious re-engagement with Syria following Bashar al-Assad's ousting in December 2024.
Germany and Austria continue to explore policies for voluntary refugee returns and deportations while ensuring protections for integrated Syrians.