Syrian President Bashar Assad invited Germany to act as a mediator in his country’s civil war. He did so during a lengthy interview with Der Spiegel magazine, published October 7.

The same day, Iranian President Hassan Rowhani called on Germany to play a “positive and constructive role” in next week’s negotiations in Geneva.

Germany has already turned down Assad’s invitation, but these calls demonstrate a dramatic development in foreign policy: Germany has emerged as the Middle East’s mediator of choice.

During his interview, Germany was the only country other than Russia that Bashar Assad had kind words for.

“Does Germany play a special role for you?” asked Spiegel.

“When I think of Europe, I ask myself who is closer to the reality in my region?” replied Assad. “Every European position is still far from our reality. Germany and Austria have the most objective and closest position to reality. The German position is the closest.”

“Could Germany take on the role of intermediary?” continued the interviewer.

“Of course,” said Assad, “I would like to see envoys from Germany come to Syria to see and discuss the reality. Coming here doesn’t mean you support the government. But if you come here, you can do, you can talk, you can discuss, you can convince.”

Iran’s calls were less equivocal. Asking for Germany to be “positive” and “constructive” is not quite the same as calling on them to be an intermediary. But Germany already plays a special role in Iran’s nuclear negotiations.

The discussions that will take place next week are part of the “P5+1” talks—so called because they’re held by the five nations with permanent seats on the UN Security Council, plus one. Who is the “plus one”—the nation so important and so highly valued as a mediator that they’re asked to come along despite the fact they don’t belong to this group? That would be Germany.

In a world still split between East and West, Germany has emerged as one of the few independent voices.

Germany is close to the West, but not in lock-step with America. When Britain, France and America began military action in Libya, Germany sat it out—siding instead with Russia and China. In certain Middle Eastern eyes, it is not viewed as a lackey to the Great Satan the same way that France and Britain are.

Meanwhile, Germany has a solid working relationship with Russia. That relationship is strained at times, but even at its weakest, it is still far stronger than the one between the U.S. and Russia. Germany also works hard to maintain good relations and strong trade ties with China. At the same time, it is close to Saudi Arabia and the Sunni Arab powers.

As the de facto leader of Europe, Germany’s voice also carries weight. More than anyone else, the chancellor of Germany speaks for the whole EU.

If there is a middle ground in geopolitics, Germany has come closer than any other major nation to claiming it.

What bearing does this have on Syria and Iran? Perhaps none—but it is part of a far more important trend.

The Trumpet has long forecast that Syria would emerge from its civil war allied with Germany. Germany maintains links with Syria’s rebels. They may prefer Assad’s ouster to trying to influence Syria through the role of mediator. Outgoing German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle rejected Assad’s invitation the same day it was made, saying “We have Lakhdar Brahimi acting as UN special envoy, and we fully support his efforts to mediate a political solution.”

But the Bible also prophesies that another nation will look to Germany: Israel.

Israel will come under attack from radical Islam. It will turn to Germany in search of peace. European troops will probably be invited in to maintain that peace.

According to the chronology of biblical prophecy, this is the beginning of a chain of events that will lead to World War iii—and we can see already that Germany has gained that mediator role. The Middle East is already looking to Germany to provide peace. This chain of events is almost ready to begin.

This is a major trend to be attuned to in Germany’s rise on the world scene. Watch for it to become more involved in the Middle East peace process.

For more information on the sequence of events that the Bible says will lead up to World War iii, and the great hope at its end, read Trumpet editor in chief Gerald Flurry’s article “Watch Jerusalem!”