France What next in Syria? Paris summit seeks way forward for transition
More than ten years of civil war, a hastily overthrown regime and a divided and war-torn country: the conditions for a peaceful transition in Syria are complicated.
13.02.2025, 06:24
SDA
This afternoon, a high-level international conference in Paris will try to find ways to bring stability to the Arab country. In addition to host France, Turkey, the USA, Arab states, the United Nations and the European Union are also represented. Germany's Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock (Greens) will be attending the summit.
Country still divided
At the summit, host France wants to focus its efforts on the future of Syria. The Élysée Palace emphasized that it is about a peaceful and representative transition that guarantees sovereignty and security. Even after the flight of long-term ruler Bashar al-Assad and the fall of his government, Syria is still effectively divided. In the north-east, forces close to Turkey and Kurdish militias are fighting over strategically important areas. The terrorist militia Islamic State (IS), which is considered militarily defeated, is also still active in the country and has an estimated 2,000 to 3,000 fighters.
Syria wants to move closer to the end of sanctions
Reconstruction, which is estimated to cost at least 250 to 400 billion US dollars, is also likely to be a key topic at the meeting. Large parts of Syria have been destroyed and the country's economy has shrunk by 85 percent since the beginning of the civil war. 70 percent of the population live in poverty and, according to the UN, around 80 percent are in urgent need of humanitarian aid. France hopes to be able to better coordinate this aid through the summit.
Syria's interim president Ahmed al-Sharaa had repeatedly called for the lifting of sanctions directed against the Assad government and economic sectors from which it benefited. France had lobbied the EU for the sanctions to be eased. The USA and the EU have held out the prospect or announced the easing of some sanctions. However, the EU has not yet provided a clear roadmap for the lifting of these measures.
Paris also wants to raise the issue of transitional justice and the fight against impunity. Proposals from civil society are to be discussed.
France has long had special ties with Syria
The conference in Paris is also very important for Syria because France, with its historical ties, could play a prominent role in the reconstruction process. After the dissolution of the Ottoman Empire, France was the mandate power in Syria and neighboring Lebanon. From 1920 to 1946, Paris controlled the economy and education in the country.
From a French perspective, the country has supported the aspirations of the Syrian population since the outbreak of the civil war in 2011. It declared the overthrow of Assad a priority, was the first country to join the US alliance to fight the Islamic State (IS) terrorist militia and also supplied weapons to the opposition, which supported the fight against IS. IS had carried out several serious terrorist attacks and assaults in France, including in Paris in 2015.
Interim president not present
Although French President Emmanuel Macron recently invited the Syrian interim president al-Sharaa to France, he will not be attending the conference. The EU still has him on its terror list anyway. Instead, Syria's Foreign Minister Assad al-Shaybani is expected in Paris.
