US President Donald Trump engaged with Syria's interim president, Ahmed al-Sharaa – a former al-Qaida commander – while announcing comprehensive sanctions relief for Damascus during his high-stakes tour of Gulf nations.
The president said that "Normalizating relations with Syria beginning with meeting with al-Sharaa" and "We are exploring normalizing relations with Syria's new government." The president also urged it to make peace with Israel by joining the Abraham Accords that have normalized relations between Israel and four Arab nations.
Despite reservations expressed within his government regarding Syria's leadership's previous connections to al-Qaida, Trump announced during his Tuesday address in Riyadh that he would "lift sanctions on Syria," according to Reuters. This significant policy shift comes as part of the president's broader diplomatic engagement in the region.
Today, President Trump, at the invitation of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, met with Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa. President Erdogan of Turkey joined by phone. President Erdogan praised President Trump for lifting sanctions on Syria and committed to working alongside Saudi… pic.twitter.com/0yhyZbQ1o0
— Karoline Leavitt (@PressSec) May 14, 2025
According to Reuters, Trump elaborated on his decision, stating: "Lifting sanctions on Syria to give them a fresh start." Reuters added that during the meeting, "Syria's president al-Sharaa told Trump he invites American companies to invest in Syrian oil and gas sector," according to a White House spokesperson. The White House spokesperson further said "Trump urged Syria's president al-Sharaa to 'deport Palestinian terrorists" and "told Syria's president al-Sharaa to help the United States to prevent the resurgence of ISIS."
The American commander-in-chief has committed to "say hello" to interim Syrian leader, who is visiting Riyadh for discussions with Gulf Cooperation Council representatives. The encounter represents a notable diplomatic development given Syria's controversial recent history.
The challenges were laid bare in March when Assad loyalists attacked government forces, prompting revenge attacks in which Islamist gunmen killed hundreds of civilians from the Alawite minority, drawing strong US condemnation.
al-Sharaa was for years the leader of al-Qaida's official wing in the Syrian conflict. He first joined the group in Iraq, where he spent five years in a US prison. The United States removed a $10 million bounty on his head in December.
Trump's initial day of his four-day diplomatic journey through the Gulf nations featured elaborate ceremonies and "business deals," including Saudi Arabia's $600 billion pledge for American investments and $142 billion in defense equipment sales to Riyadh, as documented by Reuters. These financial arrangements underscore the economic dimensions of the visit.
Later Wednesday, the US president will journey to Doha, Qatar's capital, for an official state visit with Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani and additional Qatari officials. Qatar, a strategic US partner, is anticipated to declare hundreds of billions in American investments during the presidential visit.
While Israel – America's key ally – has opposed removing sanctions on Syria, Trump revealed Tuesday that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan, both maintaining close relationships with the American leader, encouraged this diplomatic reversal, according to Reuters's reporting. euters confirmed Saudi support, reporting Saudi crown prince said, "We commend Trump's decision to lift sanctions on Syria."
The presidential interaction with al-Sharaa, formerly an al-Qaida commander who directed rebel forces that overthrew Syrian President Bashar Assad in December, will attract significant attention as analysts evaluate Washington's commitment to transforming its relationship with Damascus. Al-Sharaa publicly disavowed connections to al-Qaida in 2016, marking his political evolution.
Trump's Doha visit follows the White House's recent announcement of its intentions to "plans to accept" a Boeing 747-8 aircraft – which would be configured as Air Force One – as a gift from Qatar, Reuters reports. This luxury aircraft, potentially among the most valuable presents ever received by America's government, would eventually be transferred to Trump's presidential library.
The Qatari gift has provoked outrage among Democrats and bipartisan security worries, with some government representatives suggesting it might create a "perception of corruption," even without explicit quid pro quo arrangements, according to Reuters. The ethical implications continue to generate debate in Washington.
Video: President Trump arrives in Saudi Arabia / May 13, 2025 / Reuters
While precise details regarding Qatar's planned investment announcements remain unclear, Qatar Airways is expected to procure approximately 100 widebody Boeing aircraft, Reuters reported citing a source familiar with negotiations. This commercial arrangement would represent another significant economic component of Trump's regional tour.
After concluding his Qatar visit, Trump will travel to Abu Dhabi for meetings with UAE leadership on Thursday. The president is currently scheduled to return to Washington Friday, though he has indicated he "could fly to Turkey" instead to potentially facilitate a meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
