German Chancellor Friedrich Merz announced on Monday an ambitious plan to repatriate up to 80% of Syrian citizens currently residing in Germany within the next three years. At the same time, he proposed the creation of an international contact group to ensure security in the strategic Strait of Hormuz following the conflict with Iran. During a press conference in Berlin with Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa, Merz detailed that the repatriation would begin with Syrians who do not have a residence permit or have committed crimes in Germany. The head of the German government emphasized that while Germany will continue to host those who are well-integrated and wish to remain in the country, he believes that after the end of the civil war in Syria, the conditions exist for the gradual return of a large part of the refugees. Al-Sharaa, for his part, expressed concern over the escalation of the regional conflict and highlighted Syria's strategic position as a key point in supply chains between East and West. He noted that although the armed conflict has ended, Syria now faces the enormous challenge of reconstruction, with cities and infrastructure devastated. In this context, he proposed strengthening economic cooperation with Germany to create jobs and facilitate the return of refugees. The Syrian leader even proposed a model where Syrian citizens living in Germany could return to their country to work on projects linked to German companies, thus contributing to the country's economic recovery.
