Overview

• German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock oversaw the reopening of the embassy during her visit to Damascus on March 20, 2025.
• The embassy will operate with a small political team, while consular and visa services remain based in Beirut due to security concerns.
• Germany's re-engagement reflects its focus on inclusivity, minority rights, and accountability in Syria's political transition under interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa.
• Recent clashes between Assad loyalists and the new government forces resulted in over 1,000 deaths, primarily affecting Assad's Alawite minority.
• The reopening follows a historic agreement between Syria's interim government and the Kurdish-led authority in the northeast earlier this month.