Syria is set to make history by participating in the G7 summit for the first time since the international forum began nearly five decades ago, according to three sources with knowledge of the situation.
President Ahmed al-Sharaa will represent Syria as a guest nation at the upcoming summit scheduled for June 15-17 in Évian-les-Bains, located in southeastern France. This marks a significant milestone as Syria has never participated in a G7 gathering since the group’s establishment in 1975.
The invitation was personally delivered to Syrian Finance Minister Yisr Barnieh during the group’s financial discussions held in Paris this week, according to one source.
A Syrian official indicated that the nation’s involvement in the discussions will likely center on Syria’s potential role as a “strategic hub for supply chains” in light of the Strait of Hormuz closure.
Maritime traffic through the strait has been significantly disrupted since the Iran war began in late February, creating widespread economic turbulence globally.
As Syria works to emerge from its 14-year civil conflict as a Western ally, the country is focused on reconstructing an economy devastated by years of warfare and international sanctions.
Although many sanctions from the era of former Presidents Hafez and Bashar al-Assad have been relaxed, securing foreign investment and reestablishing standard banking relationships has progressed more slowly than many government officials anticipated.
