French President Macron arrived in Syria on July 7, becoming the first EU head
of state to visit since the fall of the Assad regime in 2024. Reconstruction
cooperation is the visit’s core focus; TotalEnergies and CMA CGM’s chief
executive joined the delegation. Macron is expected to meet President Assad,
reiterate French support for a free, pluralistic Syria, and press Syria not to
deploy forces to Lebanon. The agenda also covers counterterrorism cooperation
and upgrading Franco-Syrian diplomatic ties.
