Syrian leader heads to France in first European trip

7/5/2025 13:16

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.



France welcomed Assad's fall and has increasingly fostered ties with Sharaa's transitional authorities. Macron recently held a trilateral video meeting with Sharaa and Lebanon's President Joseph Aoun as part of efforts to ease tensions on the border.