What are France's motives for returning to the Syrian scene after the fall of Assad?

The French newspaper "Le Figaro" highlighted Paris' hosting of the third international conference on Syria since the fall of the regime of ousted President Bashar al-Assad, noting that France, which has become marginalized in the crisis in the Middle East, is now returning to engagement in Lebanon and Syria, where its historical role extends, and it retains some tools of influence in the region.

According to a report published by the French newspaper, France is seeking to "help maneuver" by "turning the tables" to restore its influence in Syria.

The newspaper explained that the conference aims to respond to "urgent needs" in Syria, namely supporting a peaceful transition that respects Syria's sovereignty and security, mobilizing Syria's partners to support reconstruction and stability, addressing issues of justice, and strengthening the fight against impunity.

She added that the conference, which is dedicated to coordinating international aid, had its first edition held in Aqaba, Jordan, and was held yesterday, Thursday, in the French capital, Paris, as part of efforts to coordinate international efforts to help Syria.

The newspaper said that France has three main motives for returning to the Syrian scene. First, supporting the aspirations of the Syrian people since the beginning of the crisis in 2011, as Paris adopted a position supporting the opposition against the former regime.

Second, combating terrorism, as the newspaper believes that any disruption in the transitional process could lead to the return of ISIS activity in Syria, which poses a direct threat to regional and international stability.

Third, dealing with the file of French jihadists, many of whom are still in Syria, some of them free in the northwest, and others in Kurdish prisons in the northeast. The newspaper confirmed that Paris is concerned about the role these extremists might play in the event of chaos during the country's restructuring process.

The newspaper indicated that France seeks to play the role of mediator between Damascus and the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), as it quoted a French diplomat as saying that Paris wants to ensure that the new Syrian authorities regain control over all the territories in good understanding with the Kurdish allies, who were at the forefront of the fight against the Islamic State.

She added that Paris' ambitions are to ensure the "full integration" of the Kurds into the political process, so that they are not marginalized or excluded from the country's future.

The newspaper stressed that France wants a "free and sovereign" Syria, far from the influence of Russia and Iran, and no longer a means of transferring weapons to Shiite militias that destabilize the region.

She stated that French President Emmanuel Macron stressed, in his last phone call with the Syrian President in the transitional phase, Ahmed al-Sharaa, "France's full support for the transitional phase in Syria," and he also stressed his efforts to lift sanctions on Syria and "open the way for growth and recovery."

Despite these efforts, the newspaper said that many questions remain unanswered, especially regarding the role of Russia, which has not relinquished its influence in Syria despite the fall of its ally Bashar al-Assad, as well as the position of the new US administration, which is still unclear so far.

She pointed out that Türkiye, which also participated in the Paris conference, is threatening a military operation against the Syrian Democratic Forces, which further complicates the Syrian scene and poses additional challenges to the French role in the region.

Arabic21