In his first formal trip to Europe since assuming office when Bashar al-Assad’s regime collapsed in December 2024, Syria interim president Ahmed al-Sharaa visited French President Emmanuel Macron at the Élysée Palace on Wednesday night.
The visit also allowed al-Sharaa to project a more moderate image to apprehensive European nations. Macron carefully balanced encouragement and hard expectations while speaking at a joint press conference. The challenge of the road towards civil peace and harmony now rests with Syria,” he stated.
Macron declared that, subject to the Syrian interim government’s dedication to justice and reforms, he favours progressively lifting the sanctions that were imposed against al-Assad and his regime during the protracted conflict that culminated in his exile in Moscow.
He declared that he would implore the European Union to refrain from extending sanctions against Syria. The existing sanctions are “an obstacle” to rehabilitation, according to Al-Sharaa. He contended that there is no need to keep them in place, pointing out that al-Assad was forced to do so and that the present administration shouldn’t be responsible for them.
The so-called Islamic State organisation (IS) continues to be “the most serious threat” to France, according to Macron.
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