European Diplomats Meet Syria's New Leader in Controversial Visit
French and German foreign ministers hold talks with Ahmed al-Chareh, leader of a group still classified as a terrorist organization by the EU, raising questions over Western engagement with Syria's new regime.
- French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot and German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock visited Damascus to meet Ahmed al-Chareh, Syria's new leader and head of the Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTC).
- The visit marked the first high-level engagement between Western diplomats and Syria's new regime since the fall of Bashar al-Assad on December 8, 2024.
- Al-Chareh's refusal to shake hands with Baerbock, a woman, drew attention, though both ministers stated that this cultural norm was anticipated and not the focus of their visit.
- Discussions centered on critical issues such as Syria's chemical weapons stockpiles, the threat of ISIS fighters detained in the region, and broader security concerns for Europe.
- The EU's decision to engage with al-Chareh, despite HTC's designation as a terrorist organization, has sparked debate over the implications of legitimizing the new Syrian leadership.
L'Humanité 
Le Figaro 