Social media was flooded yesterday with a viral moment featuring the Syrian transitional president, Al-Sharraa – formerly known as Al-Jolani – as he refused to shake hands with German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock during their meeting, which also included French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian.
In diplomatic terms, Al-Sharraa greeted Baerbock with a bow, adhering to protocol, and the German minister, fully aware of the circumstances, appeared unfazed, clearly anticipating the sequence of events. While the “no handshake” moment stirred online discussions, it was the least significant element of yesterday’s high-stakes meeting between Europe’s two most influential powers and Syria’s evolving political landscape.
The encounter marked a significant shift. Baerbock, the first female Western politician to visit Syria, found herself in a country led by Islamist figures who, notably, did not impose strict theocratic demands. In fact, Baerbock’s visit was notably devoid of demands to cover her head, a request that would have been made in a similar visit to Tehran.
The diplomatic breakthrough between France, Germany, and Syria signals a shift in Europe’s stance towards Damascus, with both nations acknowledging the need to engage with the new Syrian leadership. This engagement marks a critical pivot for the region, particularly regarding ongoing migration challenges and Middle Eastern power dynamics.
The visit underscored the crucial importance of the Kurdish issue for both France and Germany. Baerbock’s statement, made in English to avoid misinterpretation, emphasized that a unified Syria cannot exist without the Kurds, a direct message to Turkey, which has historically had close ties with Damascus.
Further discussions between the European powers and Al-Sharraa also focused on Syria’s urgent infrastructure needs. It is expected that German and French companies will compete for key energy infrastructure projects, as the visit paves the way for the European Commission to consider easing sanctions to allow humanitarian and economic aid to flow into Syria.
This diplomatic move opens up more opportunities for both Syria and Al-Sharraa himself. The transitional president, once aligned with jihadist groups, now displays impressive political and diplomatic skills. His ability to navigate these opportunities will be critical as he weighs his next moves, which could eventually see him follow in the footsteps of Turkish President Erdogan, potentially making Europe wait in line for meetings with him, just as Ursula von der Leyen did in April 2021 with Erdogan. The coming months will reveal whether Al-Sharraa will seize the moment or let it slip away.
