LONDON: French President Emmanuel Macron’s visit to Damascus is being widely hailed as historic, making him the first European Union leader to visit Syria since the ouster of longtime ruler Bashar Assad in late 2024. For a country emerging from about 14 years of war, diplomatic isolation and economic freefall, the symbolism might be unmistakable. But the visit also raises a pressing question: What does France stand to gain from closer ties with Damascus? For some analysts, France’s push to restore diplomatic ties and support Syria’s recovery is hardly surprising.

Syria on Sunday said it was expecting a visit by French President Emmanuel Macron, the first by a Western European head of state since the 2024 toppling of

DAMASCUS: Syria on Sunday said it was expecting a visit by French President Emmanuel Macron, the first by a Western European head of state since the 2024 toppling of longtime…