Syria’s President to Visit White House in November

Syria’s Foreign Minister, Assad al-Shaibani, announced on Sunday that President Ahmed al-Sharah, a former jihadi leader, will be visiting the White House in early November.

Sharah ascended to the presidency after his group, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), an offshoot of al-Qaeda, overthrew the Iranian-Russian-aligned regime of Bashar al-Assad, who defected to Moscow in December. The Assad family ruled Syria for over fifty years, with Bashar leading the country through a civil war that involved numerous factions over the course of a decade. Following HTS’s victory, the group effectively ceased to exist as a terrorism organization since its leadership is now part of the Syrian government.

After his rise to power, Sharah moved away from jihadism. He adopted the name Abu Mohammed al-Jolani and switched to Western-style suits, focusing largely on attracting foreign investment for Syria’s reconstruction. His meeting with a U.S. head of state in May marked the first of its kind since his presidency began, where he expressed positive sentiments about the United States and President Trump. Trump described Sharah as a “young, attractive man” with the potential to improve Syria’s dire economic situation.

Leading an Islamist government, Sharah claims that Islamism does not pose a threat to various religious groups in Syria, including Christians, Alawite Shiites, and Druze communities. He has stressed the importance of receiving international financial aid. In March, the Syrian government adopted an Islamic constitution that included several policies, applying Islamic law while rejecting more extreme interpretations. For instance, in June, the government mandated that women wear a “burkini” at the beach and prohibited men from going shirtless.

During the Manana Dialogue Forum in Bahrain, Shaibani revealed President Sharah’s upcoming White House visit. According to the state-run Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA), this visit is historic, marking the first time in over 80 years that a Syrian president will meet with a U.S. president. Many topics are expected to be discussed, including lifting sanctions and starting a new partnership between the two nations.

Shaibani argued there was no justification for the sanctions imposed on Syria due to the previous regime’s human rights violations, noting that the authorities who were in power then still lack legitimacy.

Sources like Axios reported that Sharah aims to join the U.S. alliance against ISIS during his visit. While both HTS and ISIS stem from al-Qaeda, they are currently inactive against each other. Since taking power, Sharah has implemented measures to combat ISIS attacks.

The specific anti-ISIS coalition Sharah may join is not detailed, but it could be related to the Global Center for Combating Extremist Ideology, an initiative that President Trump launched in Saudi Arabia during his first term.

Following the collapse of Assad’s regime, the Saudi government has been a strong supporter of Sharah, facilitating his meeting with Trump earlier this year. After that meeting, Trump expressed a favorable impression of Sharah.

Trump described Sharah as “a tough guy” with a strong past, noting his capability as a leader. He also mentioned the potential for Syria to join the Abraham Accords, his initiative aimed at normalizing relations between Islamic nations and Israel, but emphasized that considerable reforms are necessary first.

Moreover, the U.S. president suggested he might lift the sanctions imposed during Assad’s regime, believing it could offer Syria a better chance for recovery. “It’s going to be tough moving forward, but this gives them a solid opportunity,” he remarked.

Sharah had previously reached out to Trump to express his support following Trump’s inauguration, optimistic about his leadership in promoting peace in the Middle East.

In a recent conference, Sharah mentioned raising $28 billion for reconstruction efforts, highlighting support from both the United States and Saudi Arabia. He stressed that stability in Syria is crucial for the region’s future, recalling its historical significance as part of the Silk Road and its diverse economic potential.

“We’ll rebuild everything that was destroyed, and I place my trust in the Syrian people,” he asserted.