Macron expected to make historic visit to Syria

Damascus: (News Desk) – French President Emmanuel Macron is expected to visit Syria in what would be the first visit by a Western European head of state since the fall of former president Bashar al-Assad’s government in 2024.

Syria’s state news agency said Macron’s visit would focus on strengthening bilateral relations, economic cooperation and issues of shared regional and international concern. However, no date for the visit has been announced.

Macron is expected to be accompanied by investors and representatives of French companies, reflecting efforts by both sides to expand economic engagement alongside political dialogue.

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The visit would be the first by a French president to Syria since Nicolas Sarkozy travelled to Damascus in 2009. Relations between Paris and Damascus deteriorated sharply after the Syrian government’s crackdown on protests in 2011, which led to a prolonged civil war.

Since the new Syrian authorities led by President Ahmed al-Sharaa came to power, several foreign leaders have visited Damascus, including Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky also visited Syria earlier this year.

Macron’s expected trip comes as Syria’s new administration faces major political and security challenges, including efforts to reunify the country after more than 13 years of conflict. The announcement followed a deadly bombing at a Damascus cafe on Thursday that killed 10 people.