Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa Meets German Leaders in Berlin to Discuss Reconstruction

Syrian transitional president Ahmed al-Sharaa arrived in Berlin on Monday for a high-profile inaugural visit that brought together Germany's top leadership, a German-Syrian economic forum, and protests from thousands of demonstrators. Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier received al-Sharaa at Bellevue Palace at the start of the visit, which had originally been scheduled for January but was postponed due to fighting in Syria. Al-Sharaa, 43, formerly commanded the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham militia and the al-Nusra Front, once affiliated with al-Qaeda, before leading the offensive that ousted longtime Syrian ruler Bashar al-Assad at the end of 2024. The visit covered reconstruction investment, the return of Syrian refugees to their homeland, and the deportation of criminals — topics that the German government under Chancellor Friedrich Merz has placed at the center of its Syria policy. Al-Sharaa has previously been received in Washington, Paris, and Moscow, making the Berlin stop part of a broader Western diplomatic rehabilitation.

Economic forum draws German companies to Syria pitch Al-Sharaa and senior German ministers convened at a German-Syrian economic forum held at the Federal Foreign Office, where the Syrian leader made a direct appeal for investment from German companies. Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul, who assured al-Sharaa of Germany's backing, framed the occasion as an opportunity to help a country emerging from decades of dictatorship and civil war. „The Syrians deserve a chance and we want to help ensure that this chance is used well.” — Johann Wadephul via Der Tagesspiegel Federal Minister for Economic Affairs Katherina Reiche identified energy, construction, mechanical and plant engineering, and information technology as sectors with strong potential for German-Syrian cooperation. Al-Sharaa described Syria as having changed many of its laws to improve the legal framework for investors, and — referencing the ongoing war with Iran — characterized Syria as a "safe harbor" for investment. Wadephul said he sees a strong role for Germany in Syria's economic development, describing the medium- and long-term opportunities for bilateral economic exchange as enormous. Meetings with Chancellor Friedrich Merz and Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt were also scheduled for later in the day, with Dobrindt's session set for 16:30.

Syria endured nearly 14 years of civil war before Islamist militias led by al-Sharaa overthrew Bashar al-Assad in late 2024. Al-Sharaa, also known by his nom de guerre Abu Mohammad al-Jolani, previously led the al-Nusra Front, which was designated a terrorist organization due to its links to al-Qaeda, and subsequently founded Hayat Tahrir al-Sham. He was appointed transitional president in January 2025 following Assad's fall and has since pursued a policy of openness and rapprochement with Western governments.

Refugee returns and deportations top Dobrindt's agenda Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt's scheduled meeting with al-Sharaa placed the voluntary return of Syrians from Germany and the deportation of criminals at the top of the agenda, according to a ministry spokesperson. The spokesperson said the ministry aims to create "as good conditions as possible" for those willing to return, and noted that accelerating such returns is anchored as a goal in the coalition agreement between the CDU/CSU and the SPD. No press appointment was planned after the Dobrindt-al-Sharaa meeting, the spokesperson confirmed. The German government's focus on deportations has drawn sharp criticism from opposition figures, with Green Party foreign policy expert Luise Amtsberg warning Merz against what she called a premature normalization of relations with Damascus. „The chancellor has repeatedly reduced his Syria policy to the question of deportations and ignored the real situation on the ground.” — Luise Amtsberg via ZEIT ONLINE The Kurdish Community Germany accused al-Sharaa of human rights violations, war crimes, and crimes against humanity, and described his Berlin visit as unacceptable. German authorities noted that Syrian government troops had driven Kurdish fighters from several areas they previously controlled during a military offensive in the north and northeast of Syria.

Berlin streets closed as thousands protest and cheer The visit triggered a major police operation across central Berlin, with numerous street closures and a several-hour assembly ban applied around key government buildings between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. Six rallies were registered across the city, including a vigil in front of the Federal Chancellery on Willy-Brandt-Straße protesting what organizers called the political upgrading of al-Sharaa by the federal government. Stephan Weh, Berlin state chairman of the Police Union, warned against placing excessive strain on Berlin police officers and addressed the federal government directly, saying that if Merz invited al-Sharaa, the federal government should bear the associated costs rather than passing them to the capital's police force alone. At a separate meeting with the Syrian community held at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Berlin, al-Sharaa received a markedly different reception, with numerous supporters cheering and chanting. The demonstrations reflected the deeply divided reaction in Germany to the visit — both opponents and supporters of the former militia leader registered rallies. The visit underscored the tension between Germany's migration and reconstruction policy goals on one side, and ongoing concerns about human rights conditions in post-Assad Syria on the other.

Perspektywy mediów: The visit risks legitimizing a former jihadist leader before Syria has demonstrated credible human rights protections for minorities. Engaging al-Sharaa is a pragmatic step to stabilize Syria, reduce refugee flows, and secure German economic interests in reconstruction.