For the first time in 12 years, France raised its flag at its embassy in Damascus on Tuesday, following the fall of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s regime. The French embassy had suspended operations due to the ongoing civil war in Syria. Nine days after Assad’s downfall, France has resumed its diplomatic presence in the country as Western nations seek to strengthen ties with Syria’s new leadership. The European Union is also preparing to engage in talks with Syria’s new administration.
France and the United Kingdom sent delegations to meet with the new leadership of the rebel group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, led by Ahmed al-Shara (also known as al-Julani), in Syria on Monday. Germany is also planning to hold discussions with Syria’s new government. On Tuesday, we expect the European Union to initiate talks with Syria’s new leaders.
French diplomats have raised the flag and sent a team to assess the political and security situation in Syria before resuming full operations at the embassy. France severed ties with Assad’s regime in 2012.
With Assad’s fall, France emphasized that any political changes in Syria must be inclusive and credible, in line with the United Nations framework. Under the leadership of al-Shara, the new interim government has appointed Mohammad al-Bashir as the new prime minister. Bashir has emphasized the urgent need to lift the international sanctions imposed on the ousted government, citing the country’s severe economic crisis.
On Monday, a British Foreign Ministry delegation met with al-Shara, where he called for the restoration of international relations and the removal of sanctions to assist the return of refugees to Syria. Al-Shara also emphasized the importance of establishing the rule of law and institutional governance, highlighting the key role of the UK in this process. Syria’s state news agency SANA released a photo of al-Shara meeting with the British representatives, symbolizing his group’s departure from its previous association with the al-Qaeda-linked Hayat Tahrir al-Sham.
This meeting may mark the beginning of a new chapter in Western countries’ relations with Syria’s new leaders. Furthermore, Assad’s fall has diminished the influence of Russia and Iran in Syria, potentially opening the door for Western nations to re-establish diplomatic channels with Damascus.
