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French President Macron to visit Syria, Syrian presidency says
The visit would pair diplomacy with business, as Macron is set to bring French investors and company executives to discuss reconstruction and economic ties.
On Sunday, Syria announced it expects a visit by French President Emmanuel Macron, the first by a Western European head of state since Assad's 2024 toppling, to discuss strengthening bilateral relations.
The trip builds on momentum from President Ahmed al-Sharaa's visit to Paris last year, where he met Macron at the Élysée Palace, focusing on reconstruction and restoring bilateral cooperation.
Thursday's bombing at a Damascus cafe killed 10 people, presenting a challenge to Syrian authorities seeking to reunify after more than 13 years of civil war; security discussions remain central.
Syria specialist Arthur Quesnay told AFP that Macron is a driving force behind the Syrian leadership's normalization of ties with Western countries, signaling Paris' interest in expanding economic presence.
Diplomat Barabandi suggested France aims to secure a share of the Syrian market alongside the Americans, while remaining eager for Sharaa to protect minorities after sectarian bloodshed in Alawite and Druze heartlands in 2025.