France–Syria relations

France–Syria relations refers to the bilateral relations between the French Republic and Syrian Arab Republic. France has an embassy in Damascus and a consulate general in Aleppo and Latakia. Syria has an embassy in Paris and honorary consulates in Marseille and Pointe-à-Pitre.

Relations between France and Syria have a long and complex history. The contemporary relationship largely dates back to the French mandate (1923–1946) over Syria established in the midst of the defeat and subsequent Partition of the Ottoman Empire at the end of World War I.

Despite the historical links between Syria and France, relations have often been strained as a result of the unstable condition of the Middle East's politics and France's foreign policies. France, since August 2011, insisted that the Syrian president, Bashar al-Assad, backed by Russia and Iran, must step down, and ever since, France had been backing the Syrian opposition. France was the first Western country to give recognition to the SOC on 13 November 2012. France has since then issued arrest warrants and prosecuted senior officials of the Syrian government, accused of abetting "crimes against humanity" and various war-crimes of the Assad regime. In May 2023, French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna publicly called for the prosecution of Bashar al-Assad, labelling him as "the enemy of his own people". After an interruption of diplomatic relations for 13 years, France re-opened its embassy in Damascus following the fall of the Assad regime.