Relationship dossier
Germany
Syria
Relationship assessment
A history of diplomatic rupture and sanctions, alongside German humanitarian assistance and a changing political context
Germany toward Syria
-35Germany supported the Syrian opposition, backed EU sanctions against the Assad government and closed its embassy in Damascus in 2012. It has also provided humanitarian assistance to Syrians.
Syria toward Germany
-30The Syrian government expelled Germany’s ambassador in 2012, amid escalating international criticism and diplomatic tensions over the government’s conduct during the conflict.
Overall relationship
-30The bilateral relationship was shaped by Germany’s opposition to the Assad government, diplomatic rupture and sanctions, while humanitarian assistance provided a channel of support for Syrians. The fall of the Assad government creates a changed political setting, but the scope of subsequent bilateral cooperation remains unclear.
How to read these scores
Scores are rough judgments, not objective measurements or current verification. Directional scores describe government policy and conduct, not public opinion. The overall score is an independent estimate, never an average.
- −100
- Extreme sustained hostility
- −50
- Substantially adversarial
- 0
- Mixed or neutral, supported by knowledge
- +50
- Substantially cooperative
- +100
- Exceptionally close sustained partnership
“Not assessed” means there is no recorded score. Pair existence makes no claim about diplomatic recognition or established relations.
Relationship context
Overview
Relations were severely strained under Bashar al-Assad: Germany supported the Syrian opposition, backed EU sanctions and closed its embassy in Damascus. The Syrian government expelled Germany’s ambassador in 2012. Germany has also provided substantial humanitarian assistance to Syrians, and the relationship has been subject to change since the fall of the Assad government.
Areas of tension
- Germany’s support for the Syrian opposition and criticism of the Assad government
- EU sanctions supported by Germany
- The Syrian government’s 2012 expulsion of Germany’s ambassador
Key developments
The Syrian government expelled Germany’s ambassador amid escalating diplomatic tensions.
Germany closed its embassy in Damascus.
Germany recognized the Syrian National Coalition as the legitimate representative of the Syrian people.
The Assad government fell, creating a new political context for German-Syrian relations.
Major uncertainties
- The scope and implementation of German engagement with Syria’s post-Assad authorities are unclear.
- The status and practical effects of remaining sanctions and diplomatic measures are uncertain.