French President Emmanuel Macron arrived in Damascus on Monday, marking the first visit by a major Western leader to Syria since the fall of Bashar Assad in 2024. He was greeted at the airport by Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Al-Shibani.
First Western Leader Since Assad's Ouster
Macron is the first head of state from Western Europe or North America to visit Syria since Assad was toppled. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky visited in April, but Macron's trip is seen as a significant step in reintegrating Syria into the international community.
According to Syria's state-run SANA news agency, Macron is accompanied by a business delegation. The visit will focus on regional security and exploring business and investment opportunities.
Context of Regional Calm
The French president's arrival comes during a period of relative calm in the Middle East, following a monthlong war in Iran and Lebanon. After his Syria visit, Macron will travel to Ankara, Turkey, for the NATO summit. Syrian President Ahmad Al-Sharaa is also expected to attend the summit and hold a high-profile meeting with US President Donald Trump.
Previous Engagement with Syrian Leadership
Macron hosted President Al-Sharaa in Paris in May 2025, where he urged European and US leaders to lift longstanding sanctions on Damascus. Most of those sanctions have since been lifted, paving the way for renewed diplomatic and economic ties.
The visit underscores France's role in shaping post-conflict Syria and signals a shift in Western engagement with the new Syrian government.
