Macron asks Syria’s interim President al-Sharaa to protect all Syrians during Elysée visit
- On May 7, 2025, French President Emmanuel Macron met Syrian interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa at the Élysée Palace in Paris to discuss Syria's stability and protection of its people.
- Macron hosted al-Sharaa despite criticism that the former Islamist rebel leader is a jihadist-turned-politician, arguing that engagement and gradual sanction easing were essential.
- The meeting occurred amid sectarian clashes in Syria that killed over 1,700 people in March 2025, mostly from Assad's Alawite minority, raising doubts about the interim government's control over extremists.
- Macron urged al-Sharaa to protect all Syrians and prosecute recent violence perpetrators, while al-Sharaa confirmed indirect talks with Israel aimed at calming regional tensions.
- The visit signaled France's intent to increase influence in Syria with hopes of stabilizing the country under new authorities to allow a gradual lifting of Assad-era European sanctions.
27 Articles
27 Articles
Syrian interim president al-Sharaa meets French counterpart Macron and 'Caesar'
French President Emmanuel Macron told visiting Syrian leader Ahmed al-Sharaa to protect all people in the multi-confessional country as the former rebel Islamist chief confirmed indirect talks with Israel aiming to calm tensions.
Despite violence against minorities: Emmanuel Macron has received Syria's new rulers
Syria's leaders have been welcomed by France's President, the former rebel leader has no control over violence against minorities in his country, but Paris sees Ahmed al-Sharaa as a potential stability factor.
Macron tells Sharaa to protect rights of ’all Syrians’
French President Emmanuel Macron on Wednesday told visiting Syrian leader Ahmed al-Sharaa to protect all people in the multi-confessional country as the former rebel Islamist chief confirmed indirect talks with Israel aiming to calm tensions. Alarm over clashes that have left hundreds dead among among minority communities have overshadowed the first months of the government that overthrew longtime ruler Bashar al-Assad in December. Macron has be…
At the Elysée, Macron asks President al-Charaa to protect "all Syrians without exception"
The Syrian President was received this Wednesday by Emmanuel Macron, who announced that France would plead for a lifting of the sanctions against Syria but demanded that the perpetrators of the recent massacres against civilians be tried and punished.
In the face of criticism, Emmanuel Macron defends the arrival of President Ahmed al-Charaa and calls on him to protect "all Syrians"
The Syrian leader assured that there would be "no room for confessional confrontations" and felt that he "proved" to be "a reliable partner in the fight against terrorism".
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