French President Emmanuel Macron will welcome Syrian interim leader Ahmed Al-Sharaa to Paris today, marking his first European visit since assuming power after Bashar al-Assad\u2019s fall in December 2024, Arab News reported. The meeting, criticized by France\u2019s far right, aims to address Syria\u2019s transition, regional stability, and minority protections.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Sharaa, a former al-Qaeda affiliate now leading Syria\u2019s Islamist coalition, remains under a UN travel ban, requiring French-negotiated exemptions. Macron\u2019s office stated the talks align with France\u2019s “historic commitment” to a “free, sovereign Syria,” emphasizing counterterrorism and Lebanon\u2019s stabilization. The visit follows France\u2019s February reconstruction conference, as Syrian infrastructure remains devastated by war, with 90% of the population in poverty.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Controversy surrounds Sharaa\u2019s governance, including March\u2019s sectarian violence killing 1,700 Alawites and recent Druze clashes. Israel has escalated strikes on Syria, citing Druze protection, while the UN condemns the interventions. Far-right leader Marine Le Pen lambasted Macron for hosting “a jihadist,” calling it a betrayal of France\u2019s counterterrorism stance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
France seeks strategic influence in post-Assad Syria, evidenced by CMA CGM\u2019s 30-year Latakia port deal. Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot defended engagement as vital to curbing terrorism and migration crises. The talks test Europe\u2019s balancing act between stabilizing Syria and legitimizing its contested leadership.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
French President Emmanuel Macron will welcome Syrian interim leader Ahmed Al-Sharaa to Paris today, marking his first European visit since assuming power after Bashar al-Assad\u2019s fall in December 2024, Arab News reported. The meeting, criticized by France\u2019s far right, aims to address Syria\u2019s transition, regional stability, and minority protections. Sharaa, a former al-Qaeda affiliate now …<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":33,"featured_media":124000,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"rop_custom_images_group":[],"rop_custom_messages_group":[],"rop_publish_now":"yes","rop_publish_now_accounts":{"facebook_108372464460192_245495985553329":""},"rop_publish_now_history":[],"rop_publish_now_status":"pending","footnotes":""},"categories":[5040],"tags":[14174],"class_list":["post-123999","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-france","tag-ahmed-al-sharaas-first-european-visit"],"yoast_head":"\n