French President Macron set to visit Syria to expand political and economic ties - analysis
Macron visited Lebanon in January 2025, and Saudi Arabia in December 2024, attempting to increase France’s role in the region
Assessment
France is positioning itself as a key Western interlocutor in the post-Assad landscape, with Macron's planned Syria visit following recent trips to Lebanon and Saudi Arabia. The move signals a push to reassert French influence in the Levant, particularly in economic and political spheres. The success of this outreach will depend on how Syria's new leadership responds and whether other regional powers accommodate or resist French engagement.