Enab Baladi – Jana al-Issa
In a European visit unprecedented in its kind, the transitional Syrian president, Ahmed al-Sharaa, accompanied by a ministerial delegation, visited the French capital, Paris, in response to an invitation from French President Emmanuel Macron.
The echoes of the visit have brought positive aspects that may reflect on Syria, perhaps the most apparent of which is the opening of diplomatic channels between Damascus and European Union countries through Paris. It may also carry benefits concerning the lifting of European sanctions imposed on Syria during the era of the ousted regime.
Al-Sharaa’s visit came just a few days after a visit by Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shibani to the United States.
France supports stability
During the joint press conference of the Syrian and French presidents at the Élysée Palace on May 7, Macron expressed his support for Syria’s stability and sovereignty, addressing al-Sharaa, “I rely on you,” adding, “We will meet him (al-Sharaa) halfway if he continues on his path.”
Macron confirmed that Syria is facing significant challenges, urging the international community to cooperate with and support it to overcome these difficulties. Regarding the sanctions issue, the French president stated that his country would work towards gradually lifting the European sanctions on Syria.
For his part, the Syrian president stated that he discussed with his counterpart Macron ways to advance mutual relations, as well as issues of reconstruction, security, justice, and equality.
Al-Sharaa considered that overcoming the challenges facing Syria is hindered by the sanctions, stating that there is no justification for their continuation, while also indicating that “good omens for the Syrian people came after this meeting,” without clarifying them.
Since the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime on December 8, 2024, France has led efforts to open communication and establish relations with the new Syria, with the French Foreign Minister, Jean-Noël Barrot, being the first European minister to visit Damascus alongside German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock on January 3 of this year.
Paris also hosted a conference on February 13 to support Syria, emphasizing a collective desire to work for the success of the transitional process in Syria in the post-Assad phase, within a process that should be led and owned by Syrians, in the spirit of the core principles of Security Council Resolution 2254 to enable the Syrian people to build a safer and more peaceful future.
A positive step forward
Undoubtedly, from the moment the new administration took over the reins of governance in Syria, the most prominent title of international relations policy has been to correct the distortions of Syrian regional policy under the ousted regime through a calculated opening nationwide, as stated by the Director of Research and Policies at the Omran Center for Strategic Studies, Maan Talaa.
Talaa pointed out in an interview with Enab Baladi that the beginning of the era witnessed a balance in Arab relations, “Today we also find that there is a new path being opened for more positive relations with the European Union, continuing to enhance a message Damascus is trying to convey to the international community that Syria will not be a place of conflict for any international and regional powers and will not be a source of conflict affecting regional security rates.”
Talaa believes that al-Sharaa’s visit to France is part of this pathway aimed at redressing international relations, strategically speaking, and can be titled as a “positive visit” that follows another “positive” one made by al-Shibani to the US, both of which will contribute to creating international and regional diplomatic atmospheres aiming at two important matters in the Syrian scene: enhancing conditions for stability and peace in the region, and lifting sanctions imposed on Syria.
Talaa expects that this visit will be a precedent for a series of openings toward Damascus at the European level in general. France, which typically has a firm stance against the Democratic Union Party (PYD), the largest party in the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES), and has a supportive position as a strategic ally with several methodologies linked to rights indicators and minority and sect issues in Syria, has welcomed al-Sharaa. Thus, this visit can indeed be considered a gateway for other countries ready to open toward Damascus.
This belief is further strengthened by the fact that before the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime, European Union countries were reassessing their strategy regarding the Syrian scene from a purely interest-oriented perspective, focusing mainly on the refugee issue, while currently, another matter to consider is the reconstruction file.
It can be said that the diplomatic shuttles seen in Damascus recently, such as those from European, German, and Italian officials, along with some European delegations, will support a series of meetings and visits and foster better relations at the foreign policy level, especially since there are positive signs launched by some European Union countries, such as satisfaction with the transitional government and its nature and composition, in addition to the partial removal of some European sanctions.
Maan Talaa, Political researcher
Political and economic implications
Dr. Salam Kawakibi, Director of the Arab Center for Research and Policy Studies in Paris, stated regarding the implications of the visit, that it came in light of the internal political difficulties partly caused by President Emmanuel Macron, who is currently seeking to play an external role that could bring him positive results. Additionally, there is a historical relationship between the two countries dating back to the 14th century filled with events and interests, along with a “mandate that was not as violent as traditional French occupations.”
Moreover, France, which feels that Lebanon is a strategic foothold for it in the East, is keen to dialogue with its large neighbor Syria to mitigate its risks, as believed by some French politicians, according to Kawakibi, who indicates that President al-Sharaa’s invitation is a step with various political, security, and economic implications. Its outcomes will play a role in accelerating or slowing down the European track toward Damascus.
Conditional opening
During al-Sharaa’s visit, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot stated that his country would not offer a “blank check” to Syria and would judge Syria based on its actions, adding that Paris seeks to ensure Syria focuses on combating impunity, reducing sectarian violence, and confronting the Islamic State group.
Barrot noted that France requested al-Sharaa’s visit in light of the Syrian president’s commitment to proceed with the fight against impunity.
Political researcher Maan Talaa believes that the joint press conference of the Syrian and French presidents clearly highlighted the areas of overlap and divergence between the two parties.
Among the issues where the two sides seem to agree are economy, reconstruction issues, security, and the necessity of initiatives to prepare a peaceful atmosphere in the region and pressure Israel to halt its aggression on Syrian territory, in addition to the refugee file and some political arrangements within Syria that promote the participation of various parties in power, according to Talaa.
It is also evident, according to Talaa, that one of the main points of divergence between Damascus and Paris is the issue of foreign fighters, in which Damascus has a clear strategy.
Meanwhile, Dr. Salam Kawakibi sees that the press conference carried several messages reflecting the density and importance of what was discussed at the Élysée Palace, yet it is impossible to predict the results of the visit before understanding the steps al-Sharaa intends to take to gain genuine and productive acceptance from the West, which is linked to achieving political integration and broad representation of various components and the issuance of investigation results regarding events in the coastal region and elsewhere.
Shaimaa Abdel-Hamid, a researcher specializing in Middle Eastern affairs, believes from her side that Franco-Syrian relations are seeing a noticeable improvement after long years of estrangement. This improvement seems motivated by a group of goals and interests pursued by both France and Syria. However, this does not mean that the future of relations between the two countries does not face numerous hurdles and challenges, whether arising from the internal chaos witnessed by Syria that threatens the unity and stability of Damascus, or linked to regional and international positions on the new Syrian administration, which continues to grapple with sanctions and isolation policies.
This situation forces France to balance between opening up to the new Syrian administration and obligating it to fulfill its commitments regarding political justice and the protection of human rights and equality among all factions of the Syrian people, especially minorities, while the al-Sharaa administration is required to take tangible steps demonstrating its commitment to international community demands, enabling it to gain complete international legitimacy, achieving all the security and economic interests it seeks.
Al-Sharaa’s visit to France: A European gateway towards Damascus Enab Baladi.
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