Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt (CSU) said that he expects Syrian President Ahmed al‑Shoaib to visit Berlin in the near future, adding that he “anticipates that the visit will be made soon”. The meeting was originally planned for January between al‑Shoaib and Chancellor Friedrich Merz, with a focus on arranging voluntary return flights for Syrians.
Despite a recent plea from the Syrian government for patience regarding deportations, Dobrindt remains committed to returning people to the former war‑torn country. “We are in close coordination with the Syrians” he explained, noting that the parties maintain close contacts on both technical and political levels. “Everything will be properly negotiated, and I see no contradiction” he added.
The minister also highlighted Germany’s support for those that are deported. He outlined “support packages” that cover not only the logistics of return but also future prospects, such as housing arrangements in Syria. Dobrindt said that since January 2025, Syrians have been able to return permanently with state assistance; according to the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees, 3,700 such returns have taken place so far in 2025.
Earlier in February, a spokesperson for the Syrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mohammed Yaqub al‑Omar, cautioned against large‑scale deportations. “We ask Germany to understand the plight of Syrian refugees and to give us more time for reconstruction” he told Focus. He warned that the rapid return of thousands could intensify the humanitarian crisis, forcing many to remain in refugee camps because of destroyed homes, schools, roads and power supplies. Al‑Omar said that in the north of Syria alone, about 1.5 million people currently live in tent camps.
The coalition agreement between the Union and the SPD includes a plan to send people back to Syria, starting with offenders and threats. In December 2025, the first Syrian was flown back to Damascus under the escort of the Federal Police by a commercial flight; subsequent deportations have followed.