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The German government spokesperson announced that Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa’s visit to Berlin, which had been scheduled for Monday and Tuesday, has been postponed by the Syrian side.
The visit was postponed after al-Sharaa announced Sunday that a new ceasefire agreement had been reached with SDF commander Mazloum Abdi, after government forces advanced in several areas in the north and east of the country over the past two days.
The visit would have marked Sharaa’s first visit to Germany since the fall of the al-Assad regime.
Al-Sharaa said that “bad weather” prevented Abdi from visiting Damascus on Sunday and that he would do so on Monday.
Al-Sharaa’s first visit to Germany since taking office was expected to focus on Berlin’s efforts to step up the return of Syrian refugees to their country.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz was planning to raise topics including the political transition in Syria and the return of migrants to their homeland in talks with al-Sharaa, a government spokesperson said Friday.
“We have an interest in deepening relations and, if you like, making a fresh start with the new Syrian government,” the spokesperson said. “We have many important issues to address. One example is the return of Syrians to their home country.”
Around 1 million Syrians have sought refuge in Germany in recent years, with many arriving between 2015 and 2016 to flee the war in their country.
Al-Sharaa was scheduled to meet German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and President Frank-Walter Steinmeier during the visit, as well as hold talks with German business leaders.
A German government spokesperson had previously confirmed that Berlin is “open to deepening relations and making a fresh start with the new Syrian government.”
Since taking office about a year ago, President al-Sharaa has made frequent foreign trips, including visits to countries in the region as well as the United States, France and Brazil.
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