In his first official visit to a Western country, Syria’s transitional president Ahmad Al-Shara arrived in Paris on Wednesday for high-level talks with French President Emmanuel Macron, amid a complex mix of geopolitical stakes, controversy, and scrutiny.
اضافة اعلان
According to an official source from the Syrian Ministry of Information quoted by AFP, the visit will focus on several key issues including reconstruction, economic cooperation—particularly in energy and aviation—and regional security challenges, including Israeli strikes on Syrian territory and Syria’s relations with Lebanon.
Controversy Over Al-Shara's Past
Al-Shara, a former leader of Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham, which evolved from Syria’s al-Qaeda affiliate, remains subject to a UN travel ban, though France is believed to have secured an exemption for this visit.
The visit has stirred political backlash in France, particularly from the right and far-right:
Marine Le Pen (National Rally) condemned Macron’s move, labeling Al-Shara a "jihadist" and expressing "shock and outrage."
Laurent Wauquiez, parliamentary head of The Republicans, called the decision a "serious mistake."
The French Alawite community has called for protests, citing allegations of genocide and ethnic cleansing during recent sectarian violence.
Macron's Balancing Act
The Élysée Palace emphasized that France is fully aware of Al-Shara’s past and does not intend to tolerate impunity. A joint press conference is expected after their meeting.
Macron aims to support "a free, sovereign, and stable Syria that respects all components of its society,” according to an official statement. French officials also stressed concerns over the potential for renewed sectarian violence, particularly after clashes in March that killed 1,700 people, many of them Alawites.
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot defended the engagement, warning that refusing dialogue with the transitional authorities would be irresponsible, potentially paving the way for ISIS’s resurgence. He cited concerns over terrorism, migration, drug trafficking, and Lebanon’s future, all closely tied to Syrian stability.
Push to Lift Sanctions
Al-Shara is also expected to press for lifting international sanctions—especially U.S. sanctions—that continue to paralyze the war-torn Syrian economy, where 90% of the population lives in poverty according to the UN. While France supports easing certain EU sanctions, it maintains that now is not the time to remove Al-Shara from the UN Security Council’s sanctions list.
