On January 12, 2025, an international conference convened in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, focusing on the future of Syria following the ousting of Bashar al-Assad. High-level representatives from Western nations and Arab countries participated, including German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock.
Discussions centered on establishing a peaceful transition to an inclusive political system, addressing the atrocities committed during Assad's regime, and modernizing infrastructure. Baerbock announced an additional €50 million in humanitarian aid for Syria, aimed at providing food, emergency shelter, and medical care through the World Food Programme and NGOs.
The newly appointed Syrian Foreign Minister, Asaad Hassan Al-Shaibani, also attended the conference, advocating for the lifting of Western sanctions to expedite reconstruction efforts. Germany and France have indicated potential easing of sanctions but with specific conditions attached.
Baerbock emphasized that sanctions against the Assad family and their associates, who committed serious war crimes during the civil conflict, should remain in place. The German government proposed that the European Union adopt a 'smart approach' to support the Syrian population by ensuring access to food and electricity while facilitating reconstruction.
Kaja Kallas, the EU's foreign policy chief, noted that any easing of sanctions would need to coincide with tangible progress toward a political transition that reflects Syria's diversity. The EU has imposed sanctions on Syria since 2011 in response to the violent suppression of protests by Assad's government, which led to a civil war resulting in over half a million deaths and millions displaced.
The conference marks a significant step in international diplomatic efforts to stabilize Syria under its new government, with discussions on how to approach the transitional authorities as they begin to establish their governance.