Syrian leader heads to France in first European trip

7/5/2025 16:06

Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa will visit Paris on Wednesday, his first trip to Europe since the overthrow of Bashar al-Assad in December, as he seeks international support for his efforts to bring greater stability to his war-shattered country.



Sharaa, who will hold talks with French President Emmanuel Macron, received an exemption from the United Nations to travel to Paris as he remains on a terrorism sanctions list for his previous leadership of Islamist armed group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), a former al Qaeda affiliate.



The two leaders will discuss how to ensure Syria's sovereignty and security, the handling of minorities after recent attacks against Alawites and Druze, counter-terrorism efforts against Islamic State militants and the coordination of aid and economic support, including an easing of sanctions, French officials said.



The visit marks a diplomatic boost for Sharaa from a Western power at a time when the United States is refusing to recognise any entity as the government of Syria and keeping sanctions in place.