DAMASCUS, Syria: Syria and France agreed on Tuesday to reappoint ambassadors for the first time in more than a decade, restoring full diplomatic ties as French President Emmanuel Macron made a visit to Damascus.
The announcement was made during a joint press conference by Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa and Macron at the Presidential Palace.
“We announce the agreement to exchange ambassadors between Damascus and Paris,” Sharaa said, describing Macron’s visit as “a historic milestone” that crowned a period of “quiet and deep joint work” between the two countries.
“This is the first visit by a French president in 18 years,” he added.
Diplomatic ties restored
France closed its embassy in Damascus in March 2012 under then-President Nicolas Sarkozy in response to the Assad government’s crackdown on anti-government protests during the early stages of the Syrian uprising.
The closure came as several Western countries downgraded or suspended diplomatic relations with Damascus amid the deteriorating security situation.
Although France symbolically reopened its embassy in early 2025, Tuesday’s agreement to exchange ambassadors formally restores diplomatic representation after a 12-year hiatus.
Macron’s visit is the first by a French president since Sarkozy travelled to Syria in 2008. It also marks the first visit by a major Western leader since the overthrow of former president Bashar al-Assad by opposition groups in late 2024.
The visit follows Sharaa’s trip to France in May 2025 and reflects expanding political engagement between Paris and Syria’s new government.
Macron backs Syria’s reconstruction
Macron reaffirmed France’s support for Syria’s recovery.
“Nothing can smother the aspiration of Syrian women and men to live in a fully sovereign, safe, pluralistic, and united Syria,” Macron wrote on X after meeting representatives of Syrian civil society earlier in the day.
“This morning I met Syria in all its diversity. I saw dignity, courage and determination,” he added.
Macron, who has been among the European leaders advocating the removal of most Western sanctions imposed during Assad’s rule, is expected to travel to Ankara later on Tuesday for the NATO summit.
Syria’s government described Macron’s visit and the signing of more than a dozen agreements with France and French companies as a major boost to reconstruction efforts.
Among the agreements was the launch of procedures to return approximately €51 million ($58.3 million) in illicit assets.
Other agreements cover the reconstruction of water and electricity infrastructure in the city of Homs, technical assistance for Syria’s Central Bank as it implements financial reforms, and improvements to cargo infrastructure at Damascus International Airport.
