Donald Trump made history on Wednesday by becoming the first U.S. president in 25 years to meet with a Syrian leader, following his decision to offer sanctions relief to the war-torn country. The meeting, which took place in Riyadh, saw Trump discuss future plans with Ahmed al-Sharaa, Syria’s interim president after the December ousting of Bashar al-Assad.
The White House confirmed that Trump and al-Sharaa held brief talks ahead of a larger Gulf leaders’ meeting during Trump’s regional tour. Trump’s decision to lift longstanding sanctions on Syria, which had been imposed during the Assad regime, was made in response to pressure from Syria’s allies, Turkey and Saudi Arabia. Trump described the move as an opportunity for Syria to “shine” and “give them a chance at greatness.”
Syria’s foreign ministry hailed the decision as a pivotal turning point, with Syrians expressing joy over the announcement, hopeful that the country could now rebuild. This marks a significant shift, as the U.S. had previously kept sanctions in place due to concerns over Assad’s accountability for atrocities committed during the civil war.
Trump’s move comes as other Western nations, including the European Union, have also started to ease sanctions, creating an opportunity for Syria’s reintegration into the global economy. However, Trump did not indicate if Syria would be removed from the U.S. blacklist of state sponsors of terrorism.
In addition to the Syria talks, Trump’s visit to Riyadh also included the Qatar plane controversy, where Qatar offered Trump a $400 million luxury aircraft, raising constitutional and ethical concerns. Trump is also expected to meet with Qatar’s leaders, a country that has played a key role in facilitating negotiations for peace in Gaza.
