Donald Trump recently met with Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa in Saudi Arabia, where he announced plans to lift sanctions on Syria.
During a speech in Riyadh, Trump addressed concerns within his administration about al-Sharaa’s past connections to Al Qaeda. He mentioned that he would proceed with lifting the sanctions. Al-Sharaa, a former insurgent leader, was imprisoned by U.S. forces after his capture in Iraq.
The White House has indicated that Trump agreed to a brief meeting with al-Sharaa before finishing his visit to Saudi Arabia and heading to Qatar.
As part of his tour, Trump is set to attend a gathering with the Gulf Cooperation Council, which includes Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE. Afterward, he will travel to Qatar, where a state dinner awaits him.
Al-Sharaa took office as Syria’s president in January, following a significant offensive by insurgent groups led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham that contributed to the end of the Assad family’s 54-year rule.
Encouraged by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Trump decided to meet with al-Sharaa, promising to remove long-standing sanctions against Syria.
In a wide-ranging foreign policy speech, Trump expressed hope that the new government would stabilize the country and promote peace. He announced that the sanctions, in place since 2011, would be lifted.
Additionally, Trump called on Iran to pursue a “new and better path” while seeking a new nuclear deal, emphasizing a desire to avoid conflict.
The U.S. and Saudi Arabia recently finalized a $142 billion arms deal, described by the White House as the “largest defense sales agreement in history.” This agreement marked the first step of Trump’s four-day diplomatic visit to the Gulf states, focusing on securing substantial deals and showcasing his foreign policy approach.
