Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shibani received his French counterpart, Jean-Noel Barrot, in Damascus, in Barrot’s second official visit since the fall of the former Syrian regime in December 2024.
The visit carried political and security signals that reflected France’s weight as a “guarantor” of internal agreements in Syria. It also highlighted the French role as a key mediator in pending files between the center and other parties.
Al-Shibani said the two sides exchanged views on the latest developments in Syria and the next steps to “complete the integration of areas in the Jazira region (northeastern Syria).”
They also discussed ways to combat the Islamic State group, and the management of prisons and camps, in a manner that strengthens sustainable stability for all Syrians, according to al-Shibani. He added that the talks covered prospects for developing bilateral relations and expanding political and economic cooperation to deepen the partnership between the two countries.
Blessing of the “Damascus-SDF agreement”
The file of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) topped the agenda. Barrot praised the January 18, 2026 agreement concluded between Damascus and the SDF.
Barrot described the agreement as a “positive development” that guarantees the Kurds’ basic rights. He considered it a step that reinforces minority rights under the sovereignty of a unified Syrian state.
The minister also revealed President Emmanuel Macron’s personal intervention to facilitate this understanding and avoid a “bloodbath” in the northeast.
From Damascus, the French minister will head directly to Erbil (Iraqi Kurdistan). There, he will meet SDF commander Mazloum Abdi to “verify implementation mechanisms” on the ground.
On sovereignty and the situation in the field, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot affirmed his country’s support for extending “national sovereignty” across all Syrian geography. In statements carried by the Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA), he said the recent understandings with the SDF represent a key step toward consolidating that sovereignty.
On the other hand, Barrot said his visit is meant to “verify” Damascus’s implementation of “security commitments.” In remarks reported by Agence France-Presse (AFP), he stressed that adherence to these arrangements, especially in the north, is a fundamental benchmark for strengthening international confidence and launching a recovery phase.
He added that the two sides discussed the “Syrian agenda” ahead of the upcoming meeting of the international coalition, scheduled to be held in Riyadh. Barrot emphasized that Syria has become an “active and responsible member” in combating terrorism and stabilizing the region.
Al-Shibani, thanks to Paris and a call for recovery
For his part, al-Shibani thanked Paris for its role in contributing to the lifting of international sanctions and supporting Damascus’s “repositioning” on the global stage.
Al-Shibani and his French counterpart discussed ways to activate strategic partnerships. He invited French companies to return and contribute to reconstruction projects and economic recovery.
He also affirmed Damascus’s commitment to the “unity and sovereignty of the country” as a framework for any internal settlement.
The visit’s dimensions and schedule
Barrot’s visit comes at the start of a regional tour that includes Iraq and Lebanon. According to French diplomatic sources, the tour aims to carry out a “verification and guarantee mission” regarding political and security commitments.
The visit also precedes an anticipated meeting of the international coalition against the Islamic State group in Saudi Arabia, which Syria officially joined last year.
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