French President Macron to visit Syria, Syrian presidency says
Macron is expected to press for minority protections and counterterrorism cooperation as France seeks reconstruction deals and a larger role in Syria's recovery.
- French President Emmanuel Macron arrived in Damascus on Monday, marking the first visit by a European Union head of state since President Ahmed al-Sharaa took power in 2024, underlining Syria's geopolitical transformation.
- Following the overthrow of Bashar al-Assad, Sharaa seeks to revive the country after 13 years of war, while Macron aims to address reconstruction, security challenges, and minority protection in Alawite and Druze heartlands.
- Accompanying the president are economic leaders including CMA CGM chief Rodolphe Saade and TotalEnergies head Patrick Pouyanne; local resident Faisal Azouz said the visit could "open new prospects for economic, cultural and political relations."
- Macron travels to Ankara on Tuesday for a NATO summit, where President Donald Trump will meet Sharaa on July 8, though France has disagreed with Trump's suggestions that Syria could tackle Hezbollah in Lebanon.
- Expert Denis Bauchard noted the trip reflects a desire to consolidate the new regime while balancing influence between Israel and Turkey, as Syria's Kurds recently agreed to integrate their institutions into the state.
183 Articles
183 Articles
Emmanuel Macron arrived on Monday night in Damascus for an unprecedented visit, the first in Syria of a head of state of a Western power since the fall of Bashar al-Assad and the arrival in power at the end of 2024 of President Ahmed al-Charaa.
Speaks to Huffpost the Deputy Minister of the Interior of Syria on the day of the attack in Damascus a few steps from the hotel where the French president was staying on an official visit: "A murderous alliance between the Islamic State and the men of Assad. We are searching the neighborhoods to find the traitors"
Made famous all over the world in January, Emmanuel Macron's flight goggles have been back for a few days.
Emmanuel Macron Visits Syria 18 Months After Assad’s Fall, Signals New Diplomatic Reset
The French president landed in Damascus on Monday evening. He's the first EU leader to visit the country since Bashar Assad's sudden downfall and the rise of former militant turned President Ahmed al-Sharaa.
Macron Becomes First Major Western Leader To Visit Syria After Assad's Ouster: What It Means
French President Emmanuel Macron's visit to Damascus marks a shift in Western engagement with Syria's new leadership, with reconstruction, security and diplomatic ties at the centre of talks.
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