French President Emmanuel Macron arrived in Damascus on July 6, 2026, becoming the first Western European head of state to visit Syria since Bashar al-Assad’s fall in December 2024. Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani welcomed him at the start of the brief trip, which ends on July 7.
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The visit signals a new phase in Syrian-French relations, according to the Syrian state news agency SANA, which called it “a pivotal step in the process of restoring Syria’s international presence” based on “mutual respect and a balanced partnership.” Macron has emphasized support for “a free, pluralist Syria that respects each of its components” and its potential role in easing Middle East tensions.
This diplomatic opening comes after more than 13 years of civil war that killed over half a million people and devastated the country. Under President Ahmed al-Sharaa, Syria’s new authorities are working to rebuild international ties and revive the economy.
Regional dynamics remain complex. For the latest on security developments near the Syrian border, see this analysis: Israel isn't leaving Lebanon amid ongoing southern Syria operations. Additional context on shifting Middle East diplomacy is available here: Israeli PM Netanyahu urges U.S. not to sell F-35s to Turkey.
These steps reflect cautious but growing international engagement with post-Assad Syria and its path toward stability.
AFP reports: French President Emmanuel Macron arrived in Damascus on Monday for the first visit by a Western European head of state since Syria’s new authorities took power in 2024, an AFP journalist said.
Macron, who will depart on Tuesday, will advocate for “a free, pluralist Syria that respects each of its components” and plays a role in moderating Middle East tensions, the French presidency told journalists ahead of his visit.
Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani welcomed Macron upon arrival, according to an AFP journalist.
President Ahmed al-Sharaa has been rebooting Syria’s international credentials and seeking to revive his struggling country after toppling longtime ruler Bashar al-Assad in December 2024.
The last French president to visit was Nicolas Sarkozy in 2009, before Assad brutally crushed pro-democracy protests in 2011, sparking a conflict that killed more than half a million people and devastated Syria’s infrastructure and industry.
A deadly bombing at a Damascus cafe last week was the latest security challenge for the new authorities who are trying to reunify the country after more than 13 years of civil war.
Syrian state news agency SANA described the visit on Monday as “a pivotal step in the process of restoring Syria’s international presence.”
It added that with the visit, “Syrian-French relations are entering a new phase based on mutual respect and a balanced partnership.”