Syrian Acting President Ahmad Al-Sharaa plans to travel to Paris on Wednesday for discussions with President Emmanuel Macron. This marks his inaugural European journey since assuming office in January and could signal an opportunity for expanded relations between Syria and Western nations.
Al-Sharaa assumed control following a swift assault led by his Islamist organization, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), which resulted in the ousting of long-standing former President Bashar al-Assad in December.
Assad, who belonged to Syria’s Alawite minority group, governed for over twenty years before escaping to Russia following his ousting from power.
The Élysée Palace stated that Macron will reaffirm France’s backing for “a free, stable, and sovereign Syria that upholds all segments of its community,” while underlining the significance of maintaining regional stability and combating terrorism.
The visit occurs as violence escalates again, just one week after confrontations between troops supporting Al-Sharaa and members of the smaller Druze community resulted in approximately 100 fatalities.
This came after previous clashes in Syria’s coastal area between Sunni militants and members of the Alawite sect to which Assad belongs. The conflict resulted in over 1,000 fatalities, with numerous Alawite citizens perishing in retaliatory strikes.
In Syria, religious minority groups such as Alawites, Christians, and Druze worry about facing persecution due to the mainly Sunni Muslim-dominated administration. However, Deputy Prime Minister Faisal al-Sharaa has assured multiple times that every Syrian citizen will receive equal treatment irrespective of their faith or background.
The 14-year civil conflict resulted in approximately half a million deaths and forced millions from their homes. Syria’s infrastructure is largely destroyed, with international sanctions continuing to be a significant obstacle for rebuilding efforts.
The trip to Paris is being closely monitored as an indicator of Europe’s readiness to interact with Syria’s newly formed government.
The Trump administration has not officially acknowledged the new Syrian government headed by al-Sharaa, and HTS continues to be regarded as a terrorist group by the United States.
The sanctions placed on Damascus during Assad’s rule continue to be enforced. Nevertheless, in January, Washington relaxed several limitations when the Treasury introduced a general license, effective for six months, permitting specific dealings with the Syrian government. This includes approved energy trades as well as related financial movements.
The European Union has started to lift some of the sanctions, removing provisions that targeted Syria’s oil, gas, and electricity industries, along with transportation and banking limitations.
In late April, the UK government declared that it would be removing sanctions from roughly a dozen Syrian organizations, which include governmental bodies and state-controlled broadcasting companies.
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