Macron becomes first Western European leader to visit Syria since Assad's overthrow.
French President Emmanuel Macron arrived in Syria on Monday, the first Western European head of state to visit since the overthrow of Bashar al-Assad. He was greeted at Damascus airport by Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Hassan al-Shaibani.
Syria’s state-run SANA news agency said French President Emmanuel Macron would visit Syria with a business delegation to discuss regional security, as well as business and investment opportunities.
Macron hosted Syrian leader Ahmad al-Sharaa in Paris in May 2025, when he urged European leaders and the United States to end longstanding sanctions on Damascus, most of which have since been lifted.
Paris supported Syria’s new leadership even at a time when others were sceptical of al-Sharaa’s conservative rule and his former role as head of the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham armed group, which was previously linked to al-Qaeda.
Western governments were especially concerned about the treatment and inclusion of women and minorities in Syria’s new government, as well as whether the country would transition towards more democratic rule.
The French president’s meetings are scheduled throughout Tuesday, beginning with members of Syrian civil society, his office said, though no details were disclosed.
Macron will then meet with al-Sharaa before holding economic talks and signing memorandums of understanding. The two leaders will hold a joint news conference afterward.
The French and Syrian presidents are both scheduled to travel to Ankara on Tuesday for the NATO summit, where al-Sharaa is expected to hold a high-profile meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump.
Rebuilding Syria will cost hundreds of billions of dollars.