Macron (l.) with Ahmed al-Sharaa (r.). Image: keystone
07/07/2026, 01:0407/07/2026, 01:04
French President Emmanuel Macron has become the first Western head of state to arrive in Syria since the end of the Syrian civil war. Syria’s Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani received Macron in the capital Damascus after he landed at the airport today, the state news agency Sana reported. The Élysée Palace in Paris confirmed the two-day trip. Several working lunches and discussions with interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa, meetings with actors from Syrian civil society and an economic forum on the reconstruction of Syria and strategic corridors are planned.
Macron himself commented on the arrival on social media. “I come to express France’s commitment to the Syrian people,” Macron said on X. “Let us open a new chapter of stability and peace together.”
Je viens dire l’engagement de la France auprès du peuple Syria. Pour a Syria sovereign, unie dans sa pluralité et en paix avec ses voisins. Ensemble, ouvrons a new page of stability and peace.
— Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron) July 6, 2026
During the devastating civil war and the brutal rule of ruler Bashar al-Assad, who was overthrown at the end of 2024, Syria was largely internationally isolated. No head of state from the European Union has visited the country since 2010. The last French leader to visit Syria was Nicolas Sarkozy in January 2009.
After the dissolution of the Ottoman Empire, France was a mandated power in Syria and neighboring Lebanon following an occupation. From 1920 until Syrian independence in 1946, Paris controlled the country’s economy and education. To this day, France’s historical and cultural influence can be felt in both Syria and Lebanon.
After the Syrian civil war began in 2011, relations with France deteriorated dramatically. Paris closed its embassy and, from its perspective, supported the interests of the civilian population. It declared the overthrow of Assad a priority, became the first country to join the US alliance to fight the terrorist militia Islamic State (IS) and also supplied weapons to the opposition that supported the fight against IS. IS had carried out several serious terrorist attacks and attacks in France, including in Paris in 2015.
After the fall of Assad, France quickly sought rapprochement and resumed diplomatic relations with Damascus. Just over a year ago, Macron welcomed al-Sharaa to the Élysée Palace in Paris in a controversial move, even though the Islamist was listed on a terror list by the EU at the time. Macron promised support for reconstruction in Syria, but also tied this to conditions. Macron justified the dialogue with national interests, above all security. At the same time, they do not want to leave influence on Syria to China and Russia.
The Islamist militia HTS, led by al-Sharaa, overthrew long-time ruler Assad at the end of 2024 after almost 14 years of civil war. Al-Sharaa was then appointed interim president and has since been steering the country towards opening and rapprochement with the West. Syria hopes that its relations with France will, among other things, help with reconstruction and strengthen the ailing Syrian economy through investments, for example. (sda/dpa)