DAMASCUS, Syria (AP) — German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock and French counterpart Jean-Noel Barrot met with Syria’s de facto leader Ahmad al-Sharaa in Damascus Friday, marking the first EU ministerial visit since President Bashar Assad’s ouster in December 2024.
The high-level diplomatic mission suggests Western nations may be ready to engage with Syria’s new leadership following Assad’s departure after nearly 13 years of civil war. The visit carries particular significance as both ministers represent the EU’s most influential members.
“The painful chapter of Assad’s rule is over. A new chapter has begun, but not yet written,” Baerbock said via social media. “At this moment the Syrians have the chance to take the fate of their state into their own hands again.”
Baerbock emphasized that future relations between Syria and the EU depend on inclusive governance protecting all ethnic and religious groups. “My trip today is a clear signal to the Syrians: A new political beginning between Europe and Syria, between Germany and Syria, is possible,” she said in a ministry statement before departing.
Barrot expressed cautious optimism, posting on X: “Together, France and Germany stand alongside the Syrian people, in all their diversity.” He voiced hope for a “sovereign, stable and peaceful” Syria while acknowledging such aspirations remain “fragile.”
The visit represents a potential turning point in Syria’s international relations after years of isolation under Assad. European engagement could prove crucial for Syria’s reconstruction and political stability.
The ministers’ joint appearance underscores a unified European approach to Syria’s transition, though both acknowledged the challenges ahead in establishing a stable democratic government after years of authoritarian rule and civil conflict.
