Syrian President Sharaa set to attend June G7 summit in France

Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa is expected to attend the G7 summit in Évian-les-Bains, France, on June 15–17 as the representative of a guest nation after an invitation was reportedly hand-delivered to Finance Minister Yisr Barnieh. If confirmed, this would be Syria’s first appearance at a G7 leaders’ meeting since the forum’s founding and would mark another step in Damascus’s gradual return to international forums following the fall of Bashar al-Assad in late 2024 and the formation of a new government under Sharaa.

Damascus is likely to emphasize its potential role as a strategic hub for supply chains amid disruptions from the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, while seeking to attract investment and restore banking ties to rebuild an economy weakened by years of war and sanctions. The expected participation follows European moves to re-engage Syria — including delisting several state entities, restoring cooperation and announcing a €620 million aid package — even as Western governments remain cautious about lingering influence from networks tied to the former regime. Attendance would be both symbolic and practical for Syria’s reintegration and reconstruction efforts, as reported by The Syrian Observer