During a visit to Saudi Arabia on Wednesday, U.S. President Donald Trump met with Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa and encouraged him to establish diplomatic relations with Israel. This followed a surprise announcement from Washington that all sanctions on Syria’s Islamist-led government would be lifted.
The meeting took place ahead of a summit involving the U.S. and Gulf Arab nations. Images broadcast on Saudi state television showed Trump and Sharaa shaking hands, joined by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
Trump urged the Syrian president to follow in the footsteps of the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, and Morocco — all of which normalized relations with Israel as part of the Abraham Accords in 2020. The White House noted on X (formerly Twitter) that Trump had pressed the case for broader regional cooperation.
While the U.S. is also aiming to bring Saudi Arabia into the fold of the Abraham Accords, progress has stalled following the conflict in Gaza. Riyadh maintains that recognition of Israel must be tied to the creation of a Palestinian state. Trump acknowledged on Tuesday that Saudi Arabia would move at its own pace.
Despite unease among some U.S. officials due to Sharaa’s previous ties to extremist groups — including a past allegiance to al Qaeda — Trump confirmed that his administration would lift sanctions on Syria. He stated this would be a first step toward restoring diplomatic ties between the two countries.
Sanctions Lifted, Syria Poised for Recovery
The decision to end sanctions, which had restricted Syria’s access to global financial systems, marks a significant shift and is expected to open the door for international aid, investment, and reconstruction. Sharaa, who overthrew Bashar al-Assad in December, has struggled to stabilize the country, and this policy reversal is seen as a major boost to his efforts.
Saudi Arabia expressed support for Syria’s economic recovery. Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan announced that Riyadh sees ample investment opportunities in Syria now that restrictions are being lifted.
Israel, however, remains critical of the decision, citing deep concerns over the Islamist orientation of Sharaa’s government. Israeli officials have continued airstrikes in Syria, warning they will not tolerate a hostile presence near their borders.
In March, Syria’s internal instability was underscored when loyalist factions clashed with government forces, triggering attacks from Islamist fighters that left hundreds of Alawite civilians dead — an incident that drew sharp condemnation from Washington.
Trump defended his Middle East visit amid criticism that Israel had been left out of his itinerary. He insisted that strong ties with Arab countries ultimately benefit Israel and called his encounter with Sharaa “a great meeting,” referring to the Syrian leader as “a young, attractive guy with a strong past.”
Sharaa, once a senior figure in al Qaeda’s Syrian operations, had previously served time in U.S. custody in Iraq. A $10 million reward for his capture was quietly rescinded late last year. Syrian officials said the meeting with Trump focused on cooperation in counterterrorism and efforts to eliminate groups like ISIS.
Following this meeting, Syria’s foreign minister is scheduled to meet with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio to continue the dialogue.
Economic Agreements Announced
Trump’s first day of a four-day visit to the Gulf region included the announcement of a $600 billion Saudi investment package for the U.S., along with $142 billion in American arms sales to the kingdom.
Later on Wednesday, Trump traveled to Doha, where he was welcomed with a high-profile motorcade led by Qatari Emiri Guard Cybertrucks. This marks the first visit by a U.S. president to Qatar in over two decades.
Qatar, previously isolated by its neighbors during the 2017 Gulf crisis, has since restored ties with the U.S. and emerged as a major economic player. During Trump’s visit, Qatar Airways is expected to unveil a large aircraft purchase from Boeing, involving around 100 widebody jets.
