French President Macron Expected in Syria for Diplomatic Talks

Syria is preparing for a significant diplomatic visit from French President Emmanuel Macron, the first by a Western European head of state since Ahmed al-Sharaa assumed leadership in December 2024. State news agency SANA announced that Macron's trip will focus on strengthening bilateral relations and addressing matters of common interest, though a specific date has not yet been provided. The French presidency has not yet commented on the announcement.

“

Macron is expected to visit Syria to discuss ways of strengthening bilateral relations and issues of common interest

This visit follows a period of renewed engagement with Syria by international leaders, including the Emir of Qatar, the European Commission chief, and Ukraine's President. However, Macron's visit is particularly notable as he is the first head of an EU state and a prominent Western leader to travel to the Syrian capital. This comes after Sharaa's own visits to Paris and Washington last year, where he met with President Donald Trump. The announcement also occurs in the wake of a bombing at a Damascus cafe that killed 10 people, highlighting ongoing challenges for Syria's new authorities as they work to reunify the country after more than 13 years of civil war.

“

He gave Sharaa a leg up on the international stage.

Analysts view Macron's visit as a crucial step in Syria's normalization process with Western countries, with some suggesting Macron has been a key proponent of this shift. Arthur Quesnay, a Syria specialist, told AFP that Macron's support has helped Sharaa gain international standing, and the French president needs to demonstrate the success of this engagement. Bassam Barabandi, a Syrian diplomat, indicated that France's visit signals its intention to secure a share in the Syrian market and exert influence comparable to that of the United States. However, Barabandi also expressed reservations, suggesting that France's involvement might be late and marked by past missteps, particularly regarding its stance on the autonomy of Syrian Kurds.

“

France is telling the Americans that we have a share in the Syrian market as much as you have. And we would love to have influence in Syria the way you have.

The visit is expected to cover regional and international developments, including the fight against ISIS. Syria's Kurds played a vital role in the territorial defeat of ISIS in 2019, and France, having experienced its own deadly ISIS attacks, is likely to prioritize discussions on counter-terrorism efforts. The context of the visit also includes Syria's efforts to rebuild its economy following the easing of Assad-era sanctions and its recent actions to regain control of territories previously held by Kurdish forces, a move that has impacted Kurdish aspirations for autonomy.

“

But 'I think they came late and after many mistakes'