Macron Arrives in Syria for First Western European Leader Visit Since Assad’s Fall

French President Emmanuel Macron is set to visit Syria to strengthen bilateral relations and address mutual interests, the Syrian presidency announced, marking the first visit by a Western European head of state since Ahmed al-Sharaa assumed power following the overthrow of Bashar al-Assad in late 2024.

Macron will travel with a delegation of French business leaders and investors, according to Syria’s presidential media directorate on Sunday, though no specific date has been provided. The French presidency has not yet issued a comment.

This makes Macron the first leader of an EU member state to visit Damascus since Assad’s collapse in 2024. The last French president to travel to Syria was Nicolas Sarkozy in 2009, two years before Assad’s violent crackdown on pro-democracy protests sparked a conflict that claimed over 500,000 lives.

A Defining Moment for France’s Syria Policy

The visit follows Macron’s controversial decision to host Sharaa in Paris last year. It comes amid mounting security challenges, including a recent bomb attack on a Damascus café that killed 10 people, underscoring the difficulties facing Syria’s new authorities in reunifying the nation after more than 13 years of war.

French analysts note that France has been among the strongest Western advocates for Syria’s diplomatic rehabilitation following the easing of Assad-era sanctions. “Macron gave Sharaa a leg up on the international stage,” said Syria specialist Arthur Quesnay. “He needs to demonstrate that was a wise investment.”

Reconstruction and Regional Influence

Bassam Barabandi, a former Syrian diplomat and head of the Nexus MENA think tank, stated that France aims to secure a role in Syria’s reconstruction and reassert its influence. “This is Macron signaling to the Americans that we have as much stake in the Syrian market as they do,” Barabandi explained. “And we want influence in Syria the way they have.”

He added, “I think they arrived late and made several mistakes,” particularly referencing French support for Syrian Kurdish autonomy.

Discussions will address counterterrorism efforts targeting the Islamic State, minority rights protections, and France’s ongoing concern about French citizens still believed to be in Syria. Paris has pressed Sharaa to honor commitments to protect minority communities following sectarian violence in Alawite and Druze areas last year.

Syria’s international reintegration continues advancing, with Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani of Qatar becoming the first foreign head of state to visit Damascus after Assad’s fall, followed by visits from EU chief Ursula von der Leyen and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy this year.

(including AFP)

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