The Syrian President arrives in Germany for the first time after postpone

The Syrian President Ahmed al Sharaa, arrived in Berlin on Monday, as he scheduled to meet German officials in his first visit to the country to discuss the Middle East war, his country’s reconstruction and Berlin’s efforts to repatriate Syrian refugees.

Ahmed al Sharaa, who is making his first visit to Germany since ousted President Bashar al Assad in 2024, is expected to meet with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and President Frank-Walter Steinmeier.

Since assuming the presidency in Syria, Sharaa continues to establish relations with Western countires and has made several trips abroad, including to the United States, France, and Russia.

Over the past year, several international sanctions have been lifted on Syria to help it push reconstruction after a devastating 14-year conflict.

German government spokesman Stefan Cornelius said Merz and Sharaa would discuss the Middle East war, the political situation in Syria, reconstruction efforts and the return of Syrians to their country.

In Berlin, “Sharaa will also join a political and investment forum that will discuss the prospects for economic recovery and the reconstruction of Syria,” according to a German Foreign Ministry spokesman.

“After the lifting of many European, UN and other sanctions following the end of the Assad family regime’s rule, the foundations of economic recovery have been laid,” German Foreign Ministry spokesman said.

Ahead of the visit, the German Interior Ministry announced a new initiative to provide support to the Syrian Ministry of Disaster Management and help train emergency services.

Asked if the talks would also address the case of German journalist Eva Maria Michelmann, who is missing in Syria, the Foreign Ministry spokesman replied that Berlin was looking into the matter.

Nearly a million Syrians fled their country to Germany during the years of conflict, many of whom arrived at the height of the migrant influx between 2015 and 2016.

The Syrian conflict erupted after the previous regime’s bloody crackdown on protests that began in 2011.

Sharaa was initially scheduled to visit Germany in January, but the visit was postponed as he sought to end fighting between Syrian government forces and the Kurdish-led Syria Democratic Forces (SDF) in the north of the country.