The last visit of a French president to Syria took place 17 years ago. Emmanuel Macron will soon visit there, the Syrian President announced this Sunday, July 5, without specifying the date of his visit. It would be the first time there has been a head of state from a Western power since President Ahmad al-Charekh took power in late 2024.
In 2008 and 2009, Nicolas Sarkozy visited the country (see photo below), before the rupture caused by the Arab Spring repressions in 2011 under the rule of Bashar al-Assad.
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ERIC FEFERBERG, – / AFP Nicolas Sarkozy and Bashar al-Assad at the presidential palace in Damascus in Syria, January 6, 2009.
Qatar’s Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani was, in early 2025, the first head of state to visit the new leader of the Syrian Islamists, who overthrew Bashar al-Assad in December 2024.
Based on Ursula von der Leyen and Vladimir Zelensky.
He was followed in January 2026 by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, and in April by Ukrainian Vladimir Zelensky.
However, Emmanuel Macron will be the first leader of a European Union country and the first head of state of a Western power to visit Damascus. He was already the first Western leader to welcome Ahmad al-Charekh in May 2025.
The Syrian President clarified that the French head of state will be accompanied by “ delegation bringing together investors and representatives of French companies” pour “strengthen economic cooperation”. She added that “Negotiations will focus on regional and international events”.
The visit announcement comes after a bomb attack on a cafe in Damascus killed 10 people on Thursday, illustrating the challenges facing Syria’s new leaders. According to La Tribune Sundaythe idea of Emmanuel Macron walking through the old city of Damascus would have to be abandoned.
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