Macron Set for Landmark Visit to Post-Assad Syria

DAMASCUS-French President Emmanuel Macron is expected to visit Syria in the coming period, Syrian state media reported on Sunday, in what would mark the first visit by a Western European head of state since the fall of former President Bashar Assad’s government in 2024.

Syria’s state news agency SANA, citing the media office of the Syrian presidency, said Macron’s visit would focus on strengthening bilateral relations and discussing issues of mutual interest. The announcement did not specify the timing of the trip.

If the visit proceeds as planned, it would represent a significant diplomatic milestone for Syria’s post-Assad leadership as it seeks to rebuild international ties following the political transition that ended decades of Assad family rule.

Macron would become the first Western European leader to travel to Syria since Assad’s removal from power, highlighting a potential shift in engagement between European governments and the new authorities in Damascus.

The French president and Syria’s interim President Ahmad Al-Sharaa previously met at United Nations headquarters in September 2025, providing an initial channel for dialogue between the two governments.

Neither the French presidency nor the Syrian authorities released additional details regarding the agenda, duration or exact dates of the planned visit.

France has been closely involved in diplomatic efforts concerning Syria’s political transition, humanitarian assistance and reconstruction following years of conflict. Any visit by Macron would be closely watched for indications of future European engagement with the country’s new leadership and broader regional diplomacy.

No further official information about the proposed trip was immediately available.