Baerbock in Syria: Handbeat refuses - what does that mean for the EU?

Baerbock in Syria: Handbeat refuses - what does that mean for the EU?

In a recent scandal at a meeting in Damascus, German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock was denied the handshake by the new Syrian ruler Ahmed al-Sharaa. This incident took place during an unannounced visit to Baerbock and the French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot, in which both politicians met the new political leadership in Syria. Baerbock, which had promised in Saudi Arabia on Sunday that Germany wanted to support the transitional process in Syria, had to face this special treatment directly on site, such as reported.

During the meeting in the presidential palace, Baerbock was not allowed to accept traditional gesture of greeting-al-Sharaa only handed his hand and put his hand on his heart, which is considered unusual in Islamic societies. Baerbock reacted with folded hands to show their respect. This representation of the power game is interpreted as a sign of the tense diplomatic relationships between the West and the new regime in Syria, which is strongly shaped Islamist. Al-Sharaa, known for his connection to the Islamist group Hajat Tahrir al-Scham (HTS), had challenged the violent regime of Bashar al-Assad as the HTS leader in the past, which made the visit to Baerbock, as the Frankfurter Neue Presse supplemented.

problematic diplomatic games

The non-handwell gesture is seen as symptomatic for the challenges that the EU and Germany can expect when dealing with the new Syrian regime. Baerbock herself confirmed that she had prepared for this incident and emphasized the importance of women's rights as a benchmark for the freedom of a society. Despite the little warm greeting, she discussed the role of equality in a future political framework for Syria. She called for a clear attitude against extremism and emphasized that the HTS had to be measured on its deeds to ensure that human rights were preserved, but raises the question of how realistic such demands are in the current political landscape.

for Baerbock and Barrot this was the first meeting with high -ranking Western politicians since the change of power in Syria, and the result could have far -reaching consequences for future relationships between the EU and the regime in Damascus. The Syrian conflict and the continuing challenges that arise from the political upheavals are again the focus of international attention.