In a historic move, French President Emmanuel Macron received Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa at the Élysée Palace on May 7, 2025, marking the highest-level diplomatic contact between France and Syria in over a decade. The meeting signals not only Paris’s re-engagement with Damascus but also Macron’s ambition to reassert French influence in the Middle East — with economic sanctions and regional stability at the heart of the agenda.
This meeting marks Sharaa’s first visit to Europe since the ousting of Bashar al-Assad in December 2024. It represents a high-stakes move that underscores France’s ambition to spearhead Western engagement with Syria’s transitional government, recalibrate Franco-Syrian relations and reinforce its influence in the Levant. Moreover, Macron’s outreach to Sharaa and push for sanctions relief have prompted – reinforced by advice from Arab US allies – US President Donald Trump to reconsider the continuation of Assad-era economic measures. During his speech at the Saudi-US Investment Forum in Riyadh, Trump announced plans to lift sanctions on Syria and restore diplomatic relations with the country’s new leader. Trump stated that this move to lift sanctions was at the behest of the Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
Macron’s invitation to Sharaa reflects a calculated gamble to position France as a key player in Syria’s post-Assad future. The meeting marks a turning point for France-Syria relations, which deteriorated during the Assad years due to France’s support for opposition groups and its role in anti-ISIS coalitions. France was among the first European nations to re-engage with Damascus, raising its flag at the embassy — shut since 2012 — shortly after Assad’s fall. By engaging with Sharaa, Macron seeks to restore diplomatic ties, support Syria’s transitional government, and position French companies to participate in reconstruction efforts. France’s early diplomatic presence in Damascus and its sanctions relief advocacy give it a first-mover advantage over other Western powers.
However, French influence in Syria faces constraints. Russia and Iran, despite their weakened positions post-Assad, retain military and economic footholds. Türkiye, a key backer of HTS, wields significant influence over Sharaa’s government. France must navigate these competing powers while addressing domestic concerns about Sharaa’s legitimacy. Macron’s ability to obtain sanctions relief at the EU level will constitute a critical measure of France’s diplomatic leverage.
The appointment of Jean-Baptiste Faivre — previously ambassador to Qatar — to head the French embassy in Damascus underscores Paris’s proactive stance. Macron reaffirmed his commitment to supporting the lifting of European sanctions, provided that Sharaa’s government demonstrates a genuine commitment to Syria’s stabilization. He also expressed hope that the United States would follow suit, arguing that lifting sanctions would facilitate the return of millions of Syrian refugees, a pressing issue for Europe and the region. The US announcement in Riyadh regarding the lifting of its sanctions has raised the prospect of European powers reconsidering their own Assad-era sanctions.
Macron’s approach hinges on Sharaa’s actions. “If you continue on that route, we will continue on ours,” Macron told Sharaa, emphasizing that progress on reforms, regional stabilization — particularly in Lebanon — and counterterrorism efforts are non-negotiable. The French president has adopted a pragmatic stance, judging Sharaa by his deeds rather than his past as the leader of HTS, a group with historical ties to al-Qaeda. This pragmatism was evident in Sharaa’s meeting with Syrian whistleblower Farid al-Madhan, known as Caesar, who exposed Assad-era prison atrocities. The encounter, attended by Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani, suggests Sharaa’s willingness to address human rights concerns, a key French demand.
Macron’s strategy aligns with France’s historical role as a diplomatic bridge in the Middle East. By initiating dialogue with Sharaa at this early stage, Paris aims to secure influence in Syria’s reconstruction, estimated by the World Bank to cost between $300 billion and $500 billion. A UNDP estimate mentions the economic and financial cost of the Syrian war reaching US$923 billion by the end of 2024. France’s initiative to push for sanctions relief at the European level in June 2025 reflects a broader objective: fostering Syria’s economic recovery to promote regional stability, curb refugee flows, and prevent a renewed Iranian foothold in the country amid rising intercommunal violence. From the Syrian side, Sharaa characterized the current sanctions as a major “obstacle” to the country’s recovery. “There is no justification for their continued enforcement,” he asserted, stressing that the measures were imposed on Bashar al-Assad and that the current government should not be made to shoulder that burden.
A key issue is whether the suspension of Assad-era economic sanctions by Macron and Trump will significantly affect Syria’s domestic economic conditions. Macron argued that lifting sanctions is “in everyone’s interest, including the Americans,” as it would enable refugee repatriation and regional stability. Macron’s leverage lies in framing sanctions relief to reduce Europe’s refugee burden; an issue Trump has previously linked to US interests. France could also rally European allies to present a unified front. Additionally, France’s objectives in Syria are broadly aligned with those of its Arab partners — particularly Saudi Arabia — on the two key priorities in post-Assad Syria: reconstruction and the fight against terrorism. This meeting followed the Syrian conference held in Paris in February 2025. GCC countries and France have since intensified their coordination to support Syria’s stabilization efforts and ensure that the post-conflict transition reflects both regional interests and international norms.
The final declaration also highlights the need for a political transition that includes “all sectors of Syrian society, as well as members of the Syrian diaspora abroad.” French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot further announced that international donors have agreed to establish a working group under the auspices of the United Nations to coordinate relief efforts in Syria. France has pledged 50 million euros in aid for 2025. Macron described the Israeli airstrikes in Syria as a “bad practice,” arguing that they will not “guarantee Israel’s long-term security.” “You do not ensure your country’s security by violating the territorial integrity of your neighbors,” he stated.
Overall, Macron’s engagement with Sharaa positions France as a leader in shaping Syria’s post-Assad trajectory. In the short term, France’s proactive diplomacy strengthens its regional standing and offers a model for European re-engagement with Syria. In the long term, French influence will hinge on Syria’s stability and France’s ability to balance idealism with pragmatism in a complex geopolitical landscape. For now, Macron’s gamble represents a bold step toward reasserting France’s role in the Middle East, but its outcome remains uncertain amid the internal challenges confronting Syria’s new authorities.
