Syria’s al-Sharaa visits Germany to talk reconstruction, return of refugees

President Ahmed al-Sharaa is on his first trip to Germany since ousting Syria’s longtime leader Bashar al-Assad in late 2024.Interim Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa has been received by German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier in Berlin before talks with Chancellor Friedrich Merz on rebuilding his country and the return of refugees.“Our interest is in seeing Syria rebuilt as a stable and prosperous nation, including with the help of the many, many Syrians who came here to Germany and Europe during the civil war and found refuge here,” government spokesman Stefan Kornelius said before Monday’s talks.Recommended Stories list of 2 itemslist 1 of 2Syria’s war-ravaged oil sector faces tough road to recovery, analysts saylist 2 of 2Syria and Saudi Arabia sign multibillion-dollar investment dealsend of listSpeaking at a Federal Foreign Office forum in Berlin on Monday, al-Sharaa said: “We want to put this difficult time behind us and now catch up with the rest of the world.”He pointed to investment opportunities in Syria’s energy, transport and tourism sectors, describing his homeland as diverse and with “a great wealth of people”.“We stand with Syria,” German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said, pledging to support reconstruction efforts. “The Syrians deserve a chance, and we want to help ensure that this opportunity is well utilised.”Al-Sharaa also suggested that he would like to see some of the Syrians who fled to Germany return to help with its reconstruction.“These are Syrians who have studied at German universities, acquired German expertise and are now working in German companies,” he said. “Through investments in Syria, they can then bring this expertise back to Syria.”Al-Sharaa, third from left, makes his first visit to Germany since leading opposition fighters to oust Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in December 2024 [Nadja Wohlleben/Reuters]Al-Sharaa was initially planning to visit Germany in January, but the trip was postponed as he sought to end fighting between Syrian government forces and the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces in the country’s north.