Macron arrives in Syria for first visit by Western European leader since Assad’s ouster

• Macron lands in Damascus for historic talks with Syria’s new leadership, marking a new chapter in Franco-Syrian relations.

French President Emmanuel Macron arrived in Damascus on Monday for talks with Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa, marking the first visit by a Western European leader to Syria since the fall of longtime president Bashar al-Assad in 2024.

Macron said the visit was aimed at reaffirming France’s support for the Syrian people and backing efforts toward stability and reconstruction.

“I have come to express France’s commitment to the Syrian people. For a sovereign Syria, united in its diversity and at peace with its neighbours. Together, let us open a new chapter of stability and peace,” Macron wrote on X.

Je viens dire l’engagement de la France auprès du peuple syrien. Pour une Syrie souveraine, unie dans sa pluralité et en paix avec ses voisins. Ensemble, ouvrons une nouvelle page de stabilité et de paix.

— Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron) July 6, 2026

The French president was welcomed at Damascus International Airport by Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Hassan al-Shaibani. Macron is scheduled to hold a working dinner with al-Sharaa on Monday evening, followed by further meetings on Tuesday, according to the French presidency.

The visit highlights Syria’s shifting geopolitical position under al-Sharaa, whose government has sought to establish relations with Western and regional powers after the overthrow of Assad’s government. Al-Sharaa, a former commander of the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) armed group, has faced international scrutiny over his past affiliations and questions surrounding Syria’s political transition.

Reconstruction efforts are expected to be a major focus of Macron’s visit. The French president is travelling with a delegation that includes business leaders, including executives from energy and shipping sectors, to discuss potential investment opportunities and Syria’s economic recovery.

Syria’s state-run SANA news agency said the discussions would also cover regional security and cooperation.

Focus on reconstruction and investment

Macron’s visit comes as Syria faces the enormous challenge of rebuilding after more than 13 years of war that devastated infrastructure, displaced millions of people, and pushed large parts of the population into poverty.

The cost of reconstruction is estimated to reach hundreds of billions of dollars, making foreign investment and international support key priorities for Damascus.

France has been among the countries engaging with Syria’s new leadership. Macron hosted al-Sharaa in Paris in May 2025, where he called on European countries and the United States to lift sanctions imposed on Damascus during Assad’s rule. Many of those sanctions have since been removed.

Paris has supported engagement with Syria’s new authorities despite concerns among some Western governments over issues including minority rights, women’s participation in public life, and the direction of the country’s political transition.

Regional diplomacy

Macron and al-Sharaa are also expected to travel to Ankara on Tuesday for a NATO summit, where al-Sharaa is expected to hold a high-level meeting with US President Donald Trump.

The Syrian president’s participation in international diplomatic events reflects the country’s changing role after years of isolation under Assad.

Despite avoiding direct involvement in recent regional conflicts, Syria continues to face major humanitarian and economic challenges as it works to rebuild after more than a decade of war.