French Foreign Minister visits Syria with German counterpart to promote ‘peaceful’ transition

French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot arrived in Damascus on Friday, kicking off the first visit by senior Western diplomats to meet Syria’s de facto leader Ahmed al-Sharaa. His German counterpart, Annalena Baerbock, is also expected in the Syrian capital to promote a “new political start between the EU and Syria”, the German foreign ministry said.