Macron Becomes First EU Leader to Visit Post-Assad Syria

French President Emmanuel Macron arrived in Syria on Monday. The visit is the first by a European Union head of state to Damascus since 2024, when rebels led by interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa overthrew the regime of Bashar al-Assad.

Al-Sharaa, a former al-Qaeda commander previously known as Abu Mohammed al-Jolani, has forged close ties with Western and Middle Eastern powers as he seeks to rebuild a country devastated by 13 years of civil war. Macron was welcomed at Damascus airport by Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shibani.

“Together, let’s turn a new page of stability and peace,” Macron wrote on X. Economic recovery is a key focus of the talks, and the French president is accompanied by leading business figures, including the chief executives of energy giant TotalEnergies and shipping group CMA CGM.

Macron has long advocated lifting Western sanctions on Syria, a process that largely took place last year.

After a period of diplomatic isolation, Syria is re-engaging with the international community. The first head of state to visit the country after the overthrow of Assad was the Emir of Qatar in January 2025. He was followed by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, while Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky visited the Syrian capital in April.

(Reuters, Max)