Macron Visits Syria, First European Leader Since Ousting of Assad

French President Emmanuel Macron has become the first European leader to visit Syria following the ousting of the Bashar al-Assad dictatorship and the subsequent regime change, Syrian state news agency SANA reported on July 6 (local time).

During his two-day visit, President Macron plans to express his support for a "free and pluralistic Syria that respects all its members," while also urging Syria to play a role in easing tensions in the Middle East, the Élysée Palace said in a pre-visit briefing.

According to Agence France-Presse (AFP), President Macron was greeted at the airport in the Syrian capital of Damascus by Syrian Foreign Minister Assad al-Shaibani.

The last visit to Syria by a French president was in 2009, during the term of former President Nicolas Sarkozy.

That visit took place before the outbreak of the civil war, which began after the Assad regime brutally suppressed anti-government pro-democracy protests in 2011, claiming the lives of more than 500,000 people and devastating the country's infrastructure and industry.

SANA described President Macron's visit as a "significant step in the process of Syria restoring its presence in the international community."

The agency further noted that "this visit marks a new phase in bilateral relations, based on mutual respect and a balanced partnership."

Syrian President Ahmed al-Shara took power in December 2024 after ousting former President Bashar al-Assad, and has since been working to rebuild Syria's standing in the international community and revive its shattered national economy.
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.