France and EU Send Diplomats to Re-engage with Syria's New Leadership

Dec 15, 2024, 06:45 PM

France and the European Union are set to re-engage with Syria following the fall of Bashar al-Assad's regime. Acting French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot announced that a French diplomatic mission, consisting of four diplomats, will visit Damascus on Tuesday, marking the first such visit in 12 years. The mission's objectives include re-establishing contact with the new Syrian leadership, assessing the humanitarian needs of the local population, and taking back possession of French diplomatic properties. This move comes after a week of upheaval in Syria, where an insurgent coalition led by the Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) overthrew Assad. Meanwhile, EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas has instructed the bloc's top diplomat for Syria to go to Damascus to communicate with the new government, emphasizing the need for a peaceful and inclusive transition. The EU's engagement aims to support a political process that ensures the rights of all Syrians and prevents the country from becoming a breeding ground for terrorism.