French President Emmanuel Macron visited Damascus, becoming the first French leader to visit Syria in the last 15 years. The purpose of the trip was to meet with the new Syrian President, Ahmed al-Sharaa. The leaders of the two countries discussed key security issues, prospects for investments by French corporations, and the symbolically important issue of returning cultural heritage.
France's Return to the Syrian Agenda
Emmanuel Macron clearly stated the purpose of his visit: to express France's commitment to the Syrian people and to support the development of a sovereign, peaceful state. "I came to express France's commitment to the Syrian people. For a sovereign Syria, unique in its diversity and peaceful with its neighbors," the French leader declared.
This visit became a significant diplomatic event, considering that earlier this year Damascus had already hosted European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. The Syrian side assesses Macron's arrival as a key step in restoring the country's international standing.
New Course and Lifting of Sanctions
The new President of Syria, Ahmed al-Sharaa, is actively establishing ties with Western partners. Previously, he led the "Al-Nusra Front" group and was under strict sanctions. However, Macron was one of the politicians who called for the lifting of restrictions to pave the way for a new stage in the country's development.
Macron's visit marks the end of a long hiatus in Franco-Syrian relations. French presidents had not visited Syria since 2009, when the country was still ruled by Bashar al-Assad. Following the brutal suppression of protests, Syria plunged into a decade-long civil war that interrupted diplomatic dialogue. Now Paris is attempting to build relations with the new authorities.
Business Mission: Oil and Logistics
Macron did not come to Damascus alone, but was accompanied by influential representatives of French business. The delegation included Patrick Pouyanné, head of the oil giant TotalEnergies, and Rodolphe Saadé, head of the logistics company CMA CGM.
French business is cautiously exploring opportunities for investment in the reconstruction of the Syrian economy. Discussing the prospects for TotalEnergies' operations became one of the central themes of the negotiations, alongside security issues.
Symbolic Gesture: Returning History
France prepared a symbolic gift for the visit. Macron will return 23 valuable archaeological artifacts to Syria. Among them are items from Roman, Byzantine, and Palmyrene civilizations.
These treasures were rented for an exhibition in Paris back in 2010. Due to the outbreak of war, they could not be returned earlier. The return of the artifacts underscores France's desire to restore cultural and historical ties with Syria.
Future Plans
It is expected that after Macron's visit, Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa will travel to Ankara for the NATO summit. There, he is scheduled to meet with US President Donald Trump. Syria has already joined the international coalition against ISIS, which opens the door to broader cooperation with Western countries.
