German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock and French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot are set to visit Syria on Friday for talks with Ahmed Hussein al-Shar’a, better known as Abu Mohammed al-Golani, the leader of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) and Syria’s new de facto ruler.
This meeting marks a controversial turning point in Western diplomacy, as al-Golani is a former senior figure in al-Qaeda’s Syrian branch, Jabhat al-Nusra, before rebranding his group as HTS.
The visit, the first by such high-ranking European officials in years, comes after Bashar al-Assad was ousted in a dramatic rebel offensive last month. Baerbock and Barrot aim to support what they describe as “a peaceful and inclusive transition” for Syria while promoting regional stability. “This is about helping Syria make a fresh start,” Baerbock said in a post on X, acknowledging the immense challenges ahead.
Barrot echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the need for European involvement to ensure Syria’s new leadership doesn’t devolve into further extremism or instability. However, the decision to engage with al-Golani has raised eyebrows internationally, given his controversial past.
Al-Golani’s HTS, once synonymous with al-Qaeda, has been designated a terrorist organization by the United States and the United Kingdom. Despite attempts to rebrand as a Syrian nationalist group, HTS remains linked to its militant origins, making Western cooperation a politically fraught decision. Nevertheless, European leaders appear willing to engage with al-Golani to stabilize Syria and curb the flow of migrants.
As part of their visit, Baerbock and Barrot will tour Sednaya prison, notorious for its role in Assad’s brutal regime. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reports that 30,000 detainees were killed there during the civil war.
While many European leaders have cautiously welcomed Assad’s fall, the choice to collaborate with a figure like al-Golani raises questions about the long-term implications for Syria’s future. It also highlights the complex trade-offs in seeking stability in a country that has endured over a decade of war and upheaval.
