Macron's invitation: Syrian President Ahmed Al-Shar'a is preparing for a visit to Paris soon.

In a notable diplomatic move, the office of Syrian President Ahmed Al-Shara announced on Monday evening that an upcoming visit by the president to France is imminent, without specifying an exact date so far, as reported by Reuters. This anticipated visit comes in response to an official invitation extended to Al-Shara by French President Emmanuel Macron in February, inviting his Syrian counterpart to visit Paris in the coming weeks to continue cooperation on important issues, notably the fight against terrorism. The French-Syrian relations are witnessing a new turn, as earlier this year saw a visit by French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian to Damascus, accompanied by his German counterpart Annalena Baerbock, where they met with President Al-Shara in a meeting authorized directly by the European Union. This visit represents the first of its kind diplomatic move in years, reflecting clear shifts in international stances towards Damascus. In another significant development, France raised its flag above its embassy in Damascus last December, after more than a decade of closure. The French embassy had closed its doors on March 6, 2012, by then-President Nicolas Sarkozy in protest against the handling of the former Syrian regime, led by Bashar Al-Assad, of the popular protests that erupted in the country. These recent actions indicate a new phase of diplomatic openness between Syria and the European Union, shedding light on efforts to rebuild relations after years of estrangement, amidst rapid regional and international changes.