Trump to Meet Syria’s al-Sharaa, Says He Will Remove Sanctions/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ President Donald Trump will meet Syria’s new president, Ahmad al-Sharaa, during his visit to Saudi Arabia on Wednesday. The meeting comes as Trump considers lifting U.S. sanctions on Syria following the overthrow of Bashar Assad. Gulf allies are pressuring the U.S. to support the new regime as a counter to Iranian influence.
Trump’s Syria Diplomacy Quick Looks:
- Trump to meet Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa in Riyadh
- al-Sharaa led 2024 overthrow of Bashar Assad’s regime
- U.S. still has not formally recognized new Syrian government
- Trump weighing whether to lift long-standing U.S. sanctions
- Gulf states back al-Sharaa to curb Iranian power in Syria
- Turkish President Erdogan urges Trump to ease sanctions
- al-Sharaa was once a U.S. target linked to al-Qaida
- Now leads post-Assad government under scrutiny from U.S. officials
- Trump’s tone softens despite previous skepticism of al-Sharaa
- Meeting could signal diplomatic reset in U.S.-Syria relations
Deep Look: Trump to Meet Syria’s New President Ahmad al-Sharaa, Considers Sanctions Relief
RIYADH, Saudi Arabia — In a dramatic shift in U.S. foreign policy, President Donald Trump will meet on Wednesday with Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa — the former insurgent who led the successful overthrow of Bashar Assad’s regime in late 2024. The meeting, scheduled to take place during Trump’s Middle East tour, is the clearest sign yet that Washington may consider re-engaging with Damascus under new leadership.
“The President agreed to say hello to the Syrian President while in Saudi Arabia tomorrow,” the White House stated in a carefully worded announcement. While brief, the encounter carries symbolic weight as the U.S. weighs its next steps in post-Assad Syria.
The U.S. has yet to formally recognize al-Sharaa’s government, which took power in December. Nonetheless, Gulf leaders have rallied around al-Sharaa, hoping his rule will stabilize the war-torn country and block Iran’s reemergence as a dominant force in Syria — a nation where Tehran had long supported Assad’s authoritarian regime during the country’s protracted civil war.
Sanctions Relief on the Table
Speaking to reporters before leaving Washington, Trump hinted at a potential thaw in relations, saying he was considering removing longstanding sanctions imposed during the Assad era.
“We may want to take them off of Syria, because we want to give them a fresh start,” Trump said. He also acknowledged that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan had personally encouraged him to lift the restrictions, viewing the move as essential to encouraging regional stability.
In prepared remarks set to be delivered in Riyadh, Trump is expected to say, “We must all hope the al-Sharaa government will succeed in stabilizing the country and keeping peace.” This would mark a stark rhetorical shift for a president who had previously voiced strong skepticism toward the former militant-turned-president.
A Controversial Past: From Insurgent to President
Ahmad al-Sharaa, once known by the alias Abu Mohammed al-Golani, was a prominent insurgent leader during the U.S. wars in Iraq and Syria. After joining al-Qaida in Iraq in the early 2000s, he became one of the most wanted men in the region. The U.S. even offered a $10 million reward for information leading to his capture due to his deep ties to terrorist operations.
In 2011, al-Sharaa returned to Syria as the conflict escalated, leading Jabhat al-Nusra, al-Qaida’s Syrian branch. He later rebranded the group as Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) and claimed to sever ties with al-Qaida — a move viewed by U.S. intelligence with cautious skepticism.
Despite his past, al-Sharaa has managed to consolidate power in Syria’s northwest and led the broader coalition that eventually unseated Assad. While his record remains controversial, many in the Gulf view him as a stabilizing force and a potentially effective counterweight to Iran.
Uncertainty in Washington
Inside the Trump administration, debate persists over whether to legitimize al-Sharaa’s leadership. While Trump appears open to exploring a diplomatic reset, many in the national security establishment are wary of rewarding a former extremist, especially one with a still-active warrant for arrest in Iraq on terrorism charges.
Some advisors argue that recognizing al-Sharaa or easing sanctions without clear reforms or accountability could embolden similar insurgent movements elsewhere. Others contend that U.S. strategic interests — particularly the containment of Iran — should guide policy, not past affiliations.
Regional Dynamics and U.S. Strategy
Gulf nations, particularly Saudi Arabia and the UAE, have already recognized al-Sharaa’s government and are urging Washington to follow suit. Their position is motivated less by allegiance and more by pragmatism: Assad is gone, and the new leadership, while imperfect, represents a chance at regional balance.
The meeting between Trump and al-Sharaa may not immediately result in formal diplomatic recognition or sanctions relief, but it signals a potential turning point in U.S.-Middle East relations. Analysts suggest it could pave the way for a phased normalization strategy, contingent on security guarantees, anti-terror cooperation, and possibly humanitarian reforms.
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