The White House announced just after President Trump arrived in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday that he was prepared to meet Ahmed Al-Sharaa, a former al-Qaeda leader who assumed control of Syria following the ousting of dictator Bashar Assad in December.
President Trump expressed his willingness on Tuesday to consider lifting sanctions against Syria.
Sharaa eagerly anticipated meeting Trump. He highlighted potential contracts for oil and gas with the U.S., peace talks with Israel, and even the possibility of a new Trump Tower in Damascus if Trump grants him audience. The White House confirmed that Sharaa would be traveling to Saudi Arabia for discussions on Wednesday.
Sharaa and his group, Hayat Tahrir Al-Sham (HTS), have been trying to convince the West that he represents a softer, more moderate approach, distancing himself from past extremist methods to govern Syria effectively. Sharaa is keen for Western nations to maintain a presence, largely to ensure the sanctions against Syria remain.
However, Western leaders are wary of choosing to align with a former al-Qaeda member who now refers to himself as Syria’s “interim president.” During Sharaa’s planned visit to Paris in early May, critics of President Emmanuel Macron warned that greeting Sharaa might constitute a “handshake of shame,” betraying the victims of jihadism.
Many Western observers are hesitant to trust Sharaa’s assurances regarding the protection of all ethnic and religious minorities in Syria under his rule. Syrian Christians, for instance, have faced threats from the jihadists within Sharaa’s coalition. Similarly, the Alawites, a minority group that Assad belonged to, fear potential retribution following his fall, suspecting they might be targeted for their past privileges under his regime.
Another group, the Druze, has sought protection from Israel after suffering persecution. Syrian Kurds are concerned about their lack of representation in the central government. Recently, Sharaa dismissed the Kurds’ requests for a decentralized governance model and greater autonomy.
The strongest foreign backing for Sharaa has emerged from Turkey, where President Recep Tayyip Erdogan seeks collaboration with Damascus while aiming to neutralize Kurdish militia, which Turkey considers a major threat. Turkey has called for the removal of sanctions on Syria shortly after the uprising that led to Assad’s exile.
Saudi Arabia and the Gulf states have also shown support for the emerging Syrian government. Sharaa received a call from Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS) over the weekend, during which MBS emphasized the importance of “security and stability” in Syria and discussed enhancing economic ties.
Reports indicate that Saudi Arabia is actively seeking to facilitate a meeting between Sharaa and Trump during the visit, though no specifics about the meeting agenda have been disclosed.
Palestinian media have indicated that President Mahmoud Abbas will also participate in discussions involving Trump, Sharaa, and MBS.
President Trump stated at an investment forum in Riyadh that MBS was convinced it was time to lift the damaging economic sanctions against Syria, aimed at destabilizing Assad’s regime.
“I will remove sanctions to give them a chance to thrive. It’s time for them to shine. We’ll lift all of them,” Trump announced.
“Good luck, Syria, show me something special,” he added.
