French President Emmanuel Macron traveled to Syria on July 6 for a historic visit. This is an important symbol for Syria as it showcases its rising status on the region.
Syria’s President Ahmed al-Sharaa is also expected to travel to Turkey to hold meetings on the sidelines of the NATO summit in the following days.
Macron’s visit comes after a year in which France has been supportive of the new government of Syria. France was the historic colonial power of Syria, running the country as a mandate territory in the 1920s and 1930s.
“I have come to confirm France’s commitment to supporting the Syrian people, ensuring a sovereign Syria that is united in its pluralism and at peace with its neighbors,” Macron wrote on X.
Syria believes that the visit will usher in a new phase for Syria-French relations. France and Syria both believe this can lead to an era of stability and peace.
Syria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates Asaad Hassan al-Shaibani received President Macron and his delegation when they arrived at the airport. “The visit marks the first by a French president to Syria since 2009 and reflects the transition of Syrian-French relations into a new phase based on mutual respect and an equal partnership,” Syrian state media SANA noted.
France plays major role in Syrian development
From the point of view of Damascus, the visit is an important milestone, and Syria’s SANA noted as much in an article on July 7, citing an interview with French television channel BFMTV in which Sharaa said that Macron had maintained contact with the Syrian leadership since the country’s liberation, and that France had played a constructive role in supporting the lifting of sanctions on Syria.
There is a lot of work to be done in Syria, including reconstruction. In addition, the country recently appointed a new parliament. Syria will need ongoing support from countries such as France. Tangible investment needs to follow visits like this.
“We are building state institutions in Syria and establishing numerous partnerships, including in the aviation sector, as well as tourism, agriculture and industry,” Sharaa said. “France will contribute to infrastructure, industry, the financial sector and institutional restructuring, and there are many sectors in which it can play a role.”
Large scale projects, energy deals and other issues are on the table in terms of Syria-France relations.
Israel takes aggressive stance towards Syria
France plays a historic role in Syria and Lebanon. It also has a role to play in the Eastern Mediterranean. Israel has generally viewed France in a negative light in recent years, preferring to have France less involved. It remains to be seen what this will mean for Syria policy.
Israel has taken an aggressive stance against the new government in Syria, with officials threatening Sharaa and constantly calling him a “jihadist” and refusing to use his name, instead preferring to call him “Jolani,” the name he used when he was a Syrian rebel leader.