Frank-Walter Steinmeier is set to visit Saudi Arabia, Jordan, and Turkey to discuss issues surrounding Syria and Gaza. However, Germany’s reputation in the Middle East has been impacted by its strong and consistent support for Israel’s military actions against Hamas in Gaza.

German Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier began a three-day tour of the Middle East on Monday, with meetings scheduled with leaders from Saudi Arabia, Jordan, and Turkey. The focus of the trip will primarily be on the changing security dynamics in Syria, where the longstanding ruler Bashar Assad was recently ousted by Islamist rebels after nearly 14 years of civil war. The current situation in Gaza will also be a key topic, alongside discussions on humanitarian aid for both Syria and Gaza.

The tour is expected to cover Iran's diminished influence in the region, as well as the shifting landscape of US foreign policy under President Donald Trump. Originally planned for November, the visit was delayed due to the impending collapse of Germany's ruling center-left coalition.

Steinmeier arrived in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on Monday morning and will meet with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman later in the day. His office highlighted that this marks the first official state visit by a German head of state to Saudi Arabia. While in Riyadh, Steinmeier is set to engage with representatives from various Saudi think tanks and visit an arts center.

On Tuesday, Steinmeier will travel to Jordan, where he plans to visit German military personnel stationed at the al-Azraq airbase as part of the international mission against ISIS terrorists. Jordan, which shares borders with Syria and Israel, hosts 2.39 million Palestinians and has the second-largest number of refugees per capita, according to the UN refugee agency. The majority of the 730,000 refugees registered with the UNHCR are displaced Syrians.

On Wednesday, Steinmeier is scheduled to meet with King Abdullah II of Jordan before heading to Turkey. In Ankara, he will hold talks with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, with a focus on the ongoing conflict in Syria and plans to stabilize the country. Turkey, hosting over 3.2 million Syrian refugees, has gained increased regional influence following Assad's fall.

Steinmeier's office emphasized that the president would assert Germany's interests in the region during the trip, but he may face skepticism in some discussions. Many Arab countries have grown disillusioned with Germany due to its unwavering support for Israel, particularly regarding Israel's efforts to combat Hamas in Gaza.

Germany has historically supported the Palestinian cause, advocating for a two-state solution and providing substantial development aid. However, its staunch backing of Israel’s right to defend itself against Hamas—especially after the October 7, 2023, attack by the militant group that killed around 1,200 people and took nearly 250 hostages—has caused tension with some regional allies.

The Israeli military's efforts to eliminate Hamas have led to widespread devastation in Gaza, displacing 1.9 million of its 2.2 million residents, according to the UN, and causing over 46,600 deaths, according to the Hamas-controlled Palestinian Health Ministry.