Macron Meets Syrian President al Sharaa on UN General Assembly Sidelines

French President Emmanuel Macron met with Syrian President Ahmed al Sharaa in New York on Tuesday, on the margins of the United Nations General Assembly.

The encounter took place as the annual high-level gathering of world leaders got underway. Footage of the meeting showed the two leaders together, with Macron heard saying "Thank you very much, thank you" in French.

The General Assembly session is expected to be dominated by a series of ongoing wars, including those in Iran, Gaza, Ukraine, Sudan, Congo and Myanmar. Leaders gathering in New York also face the persistent question of whether they can take meaningful action to halt those conflicts.

Beyond the wars, the agenda is set to include the continued rise in global temperatures and its threat to the planet's future, widening inequalities both within and between countries, and strains on the global economy. Disruptions to shipping routes and supply chains have added to cost-of-living pressures worldwide, issues likely to feature in the discussions.

The meeting between Macron and al Sharaa adds to the diplomatic activity surrounding this year's assembly, where leaders are confronting a crowded slate of security, economic and environmental challenges.