Foreign Minister Wadephul is making his first visit to Jordan, Syria, Lebanon and Bahrain. In addition to meetings with political stakeholders, he will visit the German frigate serving with the UNIFIL mission in Lebanon and take part in a conference in Bahrain on regional and global security.
At the time of Foreign Minister Wadephul’s visit (29 October to 1 November), a new opportunity for peace is emerging in the Middle East. The recent agreement between Israel and Hamas on a ceasefire gives reason to hope that the decades-long conflict may finally be brought to an end. What’s crucial now is meeting people’s expectations in an entire region.
The 20-point plan drawn up by the United States lays out a path towards stability and security – for the people of Gaza as well as for the people of Israel. The German Government is actively backing this path.
First stop – Jordan
Foreign Minister Wadephul begins his visit to the Middle East in the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, where he will meet with his counterpart, Ayman Al Safadi.
Jordan plays a very valuable, constructive and mediating role. As a hub for humanitarian assistance, Jordan has made huge efforts in the past years to deliver supplies to the people in Gaza, including at times when the suffering was at its most intense. The German Government supported Jordan in this, and we want to continue our support.
-Foreign Minister Wadephul prior to his departure for Jordan
Second stop – Syria
Since the fall of the dictator Assad, much has changed in Syria. The first important steps towards building a new political system and ensuring participation for all Syrians have been taken – but more must follow.
Before his onward travel in Damascus, Foreign Minister Wadephul stated:
We know the nightmare the Syrian people have lived through. Twelve years of civil war have left deep wounds that will take many years – perhaps even decades – to heal.
Syria faces immense challenges. To tackle them, it needs a government that guarantees all its citizens, regardless of their gender, religion, ethnicity or social status, a life in dignity and security. This is essential in order to now lay the foundation for a free, safe and stable Syria, and I will emphasise as much during my talks.
Foreign Minister Wadephul will next travel to the Lebanese Republic, where he will hold talks with his counterpart, Youssef Raggi, and with President Joseph Aoun – whose election brought an end to a long-standing period of political deadlock. Building on this political momentum, it is now crucial to also restart the economy. This will require reforms and close cooperation between the Lebanese Government and the International Monetary Fund, for example with a view to reviving the country’s paralysed financial sector.
Lebanon has been shaken by multiple crises in recent years – most recently by the escalation between Israel and the radical Islamist terrorist organisation Hezbollah.
The ceasefire between Israel and the Hezbollah militia has held for over a year now, but in order to achieve lasting peace, Hezbollah must finally lay down its arms. The German Government helps to foster security in the region, particularly through the soldiers whom we have deployed to the UNIFIL peacekeeping mission. The fact that UNIFIL is due to cease operations at the end of 2026 also means that the international community must make use of the remaining time to ensure that the Lebanese army is able to maintain security on its own.
-Foreign Minister Wadephul
At the port of the capital, Beirut, Foreign Minister Wadephul will gain a first-hand impression of the German frigate Sachsen-Anhalt and visit the German crew where they perform their service.
On Saturday, Foreign Minister Wadephul will attend the IISS Manama Dialogue in the Kingdom of Bahrain – a conference addressing geopolitical and security issues, with a particular focus on the Middle East and Africa. Comparable to the Munich Security Conference, the event will see him take part in a panel discussion with high-level figures from the international security community.
Foreign Minister Wadephul will also use the occasion to hold bilateral talks with countries from the region, including the Foreign Ministers of Saudi Arabia and Oman. Discussions will centre on the situation in the region, the implementation of the ceasefire in Gaza as well as the grave situation in Sudan.
The Kingdom of Bahrain has also served on numerous occasions as a bridge-builder and constructive actor.
The valuable mediation conducted by Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Turkey and other regional partners on the war in Gaza showed that long-term solutions can only be achieved with strategic partners in the region. That is why I will attend the IISS Manama Dialogue once again and make use of this important regional security conference in Bahrain to coordinate our efforts closely with the countries in the region.
At the end of his trip to the region, Foreign Minister Wadephul will also visit Tel Aviv at short notice to hold discussions with his Israeli counterpart Gideon Sa’ar. Germany enjoys a considerable amount of trust both in Israel and in the Arab world and can therefore play an important mediating role.
Discussions with Israeli Foreign Minister Sa’ar will focus on the further implementation of the 20-point plan for Gaza. Germany is actively involved in the process. Among other things, the Federal Government is supporting the US-led Civil-Military Coordination Centre (CMCC). Colleagues from the Federal Foreign Office are also being sent to the region to provide advisory support to the CMCC.
