Germany reopens its embassy in Damascus, 13 years after civil war.

Germany on Wednesday, March 20, 2025, reopened its embassy in Damascus, Syria, 13 years after closing it due to the civil war.

German news agency dpa reports that Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock officiated the reopening during her visit to Syria.

Her visit marks her second trip since the fall of former President Bashar al-Assad in December 2024.

This move aligns Germany with other European Union countries, such as Italy and Spain, that have reestablished diplomatic presence in Syria following Assad’s ouster.

Baerbock emphasized that renewed relations come with “clear expectations” for Syria to ensure freedom, security, and opportunities for all citizens.

This is irrespective of gender, ethnicity, or religion.

She also addressed recent clashes between Assad loyalists and forces of the new government.

She stressed the need for the interim government to control militant groups and ensure accountability.

Additionally, Baerbock praised a historic agreement between the interim government and the Kurdish-led authority for greater inclusivity in the new Syria.

The reopening of the German embassy signifies a cautious thaw in diplomatic relations, as foreign governments seek to establish ties with Syria’s new leadership.

Qatar reopened its embassy in Damascus in December 2024, and other EU countries, including France, are also engaging diplomatically with the new rulers.

Before Germany, Italy reopened its embassy last year before the fall of Assad, and Spain reopened its embassy after his ouster.

Germany reopened its embassy in Damascus on Thursday, 13 years after it was shut in the early days of Syria’s civil war.

Germany is one of the leading powers in the European Union.

Of the 27-nation bloc’s other members, Italy reopened its embassy last year before the fall of Assad, and Spain reopened its embassy after his ouster.

Baerbock said in a statement ahead of her arrival that her trip is meant to renew the message that “a political new beginning between Europe and Syria, between Germany and Syria is possible.”

But that comes with “clear expectations that there is freedom, security and opportunity in Syria for all people, for women and men, for people belong to all ethnic groups and religions.”

Meanwhile, EU foreign ministers decided last month to suspend a series of far-reaching sanctions.

This was to help Syria’s economic recovery and reconstruction after nearly 14 years of conflict.

The council decided to remove five financial institutions which include:

• Industrial Bank,
• Popular Credit Bank,
• Saving Bank,
• Agricultural Cooperative Bank and,
• Syrian Arab Airlines from the list of entities subject to the freezing of funds and economic resources

This is to allow funds and economic resources to be made available to the Central Bank of Syria.

The EU has suspended sectoral measures in the oil, gas, electricity, and transport sectors.

It has also introduced exemptions to the ban on banking relations between Syrian banks and financial institutions in the EU.

It aims at facilitating transactions for humanitarian and reconstruction purposes, as well as for the energy and transport sectors.

The bloc will monitor the situation in the country to guarantee that suspensions remain appropriate.

Foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas has stressed that “if everything does not go right, then we are also ready to put the sanctions back”.

And on Monday, European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen unveiled almost €2.5 billion in additional European support for Syrians over the next two years.

It will be channelled to support Syrians in their home country as well as those in neighbouring countries such as Jordan, Lebanon, Iraq and Turkey.

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