The Monocle Daily Can Syrians return home? Germany’s foreign minister thinks not
Nov 3, 2025
This discussion features Daniela Pellet, Managing Editor at the Institute for War and Peace Reporting, James Rogers, Associate Professor at City, University of London, and Dr. Nicholas Wright, a neuroscientist and Pentagon adviser. They debate the feasibility of returning Syrians home amidst political fallout in Germany. Pellet highlights the emotional pull of home versus safety concerns, while Rogers emphasizes the complexities of post-war Syria and migration politics. Dr. Wright adds insights on the psychological impacts of warfare, likening the brain's decision-making systems to an orchestra.
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Don't Deploy Without Clear Goals
- Avoid launching a peacekeeping operation without clear political objectives and defined deliverables.
- Ensure any force has a political horizon and funding arrangements before deployment.
Preparation Precedes Deployment
- Regional states negotiating in Turkey show good-faith interest but will not commit troops without longer-term stability.
- James Rogers stresses planning now but expects actual deployment only after a sustained ceasefire.
Return To Syria Is Not Straightforward
- Germany's foreign minister called returning Syrians 'virtually impossible' because Syria cannot currently offer a dignified life.
- The remark exposes tensions between humanitarian commitments and political pressures in Europe.
