French President Emmanuel Macron arrived in Damascus on Monday evening, becoming the first Western European head of state to visit Syria since the new authorities took power in December 2024. Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani welcomed Macron and French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot at the airport.

'I have come to express France's commitment to the Syrian people. For a sovereign Syria, united in its diversity and at peace with its neighbors,' Macron wrote online. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had previously visited Damascus earlier this year.

President Ahmed al-Sharaa, a former militant leader of the al-Nusra Front, has been trying to reboot Syria's international credentials. Macron hosted al-Sharaa in Paris in May 2025 and has been a leading voice in calling for sanctions relief. However, security remains fragile: a bomb blast at a Damascus cafe killed 10 last week, and attacks on religious minorities persist.

Accompanying Macron are CEOs of CMA CGM and TotalEnergies, signaling interest in reconstruction and investment. Macron is expected to press al-Sharaa on protecting minorities and fighting Islamic State. The French presidency also announced the return of 23 archaeological artifacts loaned to Paris in 2010.

Al-Sharaa is also expected at this week's NATO summit in Ankara, where US President Donald Trump may meet him. The visit marks a significant step in Syria's reintegration into the international community, though challenges remain.

Source: www.dw.com