Macron Plans Damascus Visit With Investors to Meet al-Sharaa, Deepening France-Syria Ties After Assad's 2024 Ouster
Updated
Updated · i24NEWS · Jul 5
Macron Plans Damascus Visit With Investors to Meet al-Sharaa, Deepening France-Syria Ties After Assad's 2024 Ouster
3 articles · Updated · i24NEWS · Jul 5
Summary
Macron is preparing a landmark trip to Damascus to meet Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa, with talks set to cover regional security, international issues and broader bilateral cooperation.
French investors and company executives will join him, underscoring that Paris wants the visit to pair renewed diplomacy with a push to expand its economic presence in Syria.
The trip builds on al-Sharaa's 2025 visit to Paris, where he and Macron discussed Syria's future, reconstruction and restoring cooperation after years of limited high-level contact.
Macron is expected to become the first Western leader to visit Syria since Bashar al-Assad's 2024 ouster, highlighting Damascus's widening outreach and France's effort to shape postwar engagement.
Can billions in foreign investment truly rebuild Syria when its new government uses Facebook for official decrees?
Is the world prioritizing Syria's reconstruction over justice for the half a million victims of its 14-year conflict?
As the West re-engages with Syria, what happens to the nation's long-standing alliances with Russia and Iran?
France’s High-Stakes Engagement: Macron’s 2025 Visit and the Future of Syria under Ahmad al-Sharaa
Overview
French President Emmanuel Macron is set to make a landmark visit to Syria, becoming the first Western leader to travel there since Ahmed al-Sharaa took power in late 2024. This visit, the first by a French president since 2009, signals a new phase in French-Syrian relations. Macron will arrive with a business delegation, highlighting France’s intent to strengthen bilateral ties, boost economic cooperation, and continue political dialogue. The visit reflects both countries’ desire to open new opportunities for collaboration and marks a significant step in Syria’s re-engagement with the West after years of conflict and leadership change.