BERLIN – A planned visit by the German and Austrian interior ministers to Syria was abruptly called off on Thursday due to concerns about security threats. Initially, the trip was set for German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser and her Austrian counterpart Gerhard Karner to journey to Damascus, using a German military aircraft to travel from Jordan.
However, German authorities reported that both ministers decided to cancel the trip before their departure from Amman, citing specific warnings from German security agencies about a potential terrorist threat. The ministry highlighted in a written statement that there was an undeniable risk to the delegation itself, making the journey too perilous to undertake responsibly.
The trip plans had not been publicly disclosed prior to this development. The objective was to engage in discussions with the Syrian interim government’s interior and foreign ministers, along with representatives from U.N. agencies. With Germany having been a significant refuge for Syrian nationals throughout the past decade, the visit was of particular importance.
The German Interior Ministry indicated that the intended discussions were to focus on security matters as well as the potential repatriation of Syrian refugees, contingent on stabilization and peace in Syria. Furthermore, Germany and Austria have expressed intentions to expedite the deportation of Syrians involved in serious crimes or considered security risks, back to Syria.
Parallelly, German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock had recently made her visit to Damascus last week, a visit highlighted by the reopening of the German Embassy, which had been closed 13 years ago during the outset of Syria’s civil war. In her diplomatic engagements, including meetings with interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa, Baerbock underscored the necessity for European representation in Syria to monitor the political transition, marking her second visit since the demise of former President Bashar Assad in December.