Ahmed al-Sharaa's Visit to France

  Footage from Macron and al-Sharaa's joint press conference revealed noticeable tension in their body language.

Macron appeared uneasy, especially following the intense criticism from the French opposition.
- Macron faced sharp criticism after welcoming al-Sharaa, with some opposition members alleging that it was "trampling on the blood of the victims."
This sentiment stemmed from al-Sharaa's association with groups classified as terrorist organizations, as well as reports of massacres targeting Alawites and Druze on the Syrian coast and in Jaramana, attributed to Syrian armed groups.
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Legal and Ethical Issues:
- Although there was no official protocol indicating that al-Sharaa was a "distinguished guest of honor," the fact remains that the French president hosted a "transitional president of Syria" who lacks widespread international recognition of his legitimacy.
- Al-Sharaa is still listed on international terrorism watchlists due to his leadership role in a group classified as a terrorist organization under a UN resolution, making his visit to France a violation of the country's legal commitment to counterterrorism efforts.
Notably, Al-Sharaa had been granted an exemption by the UN to travel to Paris despite remaining on the terrorism list.
- French media outlets like Le Monde criticized the contradiction between France's human rights ideals and its decision to host al-Sharaa, remarking, "A necktie does not change the crimes of the past."
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French Interests in Hosting al-Sharaa:
A. France seeks a role in the Middle East, particularly in Syria, to establish a sphere of influence and connect Europe with Syria, especially after Germany has already engaged with the new rulers in Syria.
B. Once sanctions are lifted, France aims for its companies to participate in Syria's reconstruction. The new Syrian government has granted CMA CGM, a French company, a contract worth 230 million euros to develop the port of Latakia.
C. France is also looking to strengthen its influence in Lebanon by discussing border issues and contentious matters between Lebanon and Syria, which were already addressed by Saudi Arabia, hosting bilateral meetings.
D. France aspires to play a role, in cooperation with Gulf countries, that could balance Turkish influence in Syria.
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