The interior ministers of Germany and Austria canceled their planned trip to Syria on Thursday due to a potential security threat to their delegation, according to German officials.
German Minister Nancy Faeser was set to visit Damascus with her Austrian counterpart, Gerhard Karner, and a German military plane was arranged to transport the delegation from Jordan to Syria on Thursday morning.
However, Faeser’s ministry announced that the ministers decided to cancel the trip before the flight could depart from Amman due to specific warnings from German security authorities regarding a terrorist threat.
The statement further explained that although a direct threat to the delegation couldn’t be confirmed, it was deemed irresponsible to proceed with the trip given the situation.
The visit had not been publicly disclosed in advance. The ministers intended to meet with Syria’s interior and foreign ministers, as well as representatives from U.N. agencies.
Germany has been a key destination for Syrian refugees over the past decade.
The German Interior Ministry stated that the planned discussions on Thursday were intended to focus on security concerns and the “prospects for the return of Syrian refugees should Syria experience stabilization and peaceful development.” It also highlighted that Germany and Austria are collaborating to facilitate the deportation of Syrians who have committed serious crimes or are considered security risks, as soon as it is feasible to return them to Syria.
German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock visited Damascus last week and reopened the German Embassy, 13 years after it was closed during the early stages of Syria’s civil war.
Baerbock, who met with interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa and other officials, emphasized that Europe needs a presence on the ground to monitor Syria’s political transition. This visit marked her second trip since the fall of former President Bashar Assad in December.
