Trump meets Sharra, vows to lift sanctions on Syria

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia,— U.S. President Donald Trump met Wednesday with Syria’s interim president, Ahmed al-Sharaa, in the Saudi capital, marking a significant change in U.S. foreign policy.

The meeting came hours after Trump announced that Washington would lift all economic sanctions against the Sharaa-led government in Damascus.

The encounter occurred ahead of a summit between the United States and Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries. Footage broadcast by Saudi state television showed Trump shaking hands with al-Sharaa in the presence of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

Trump also urged Sharaa to normalize ties with Israel, a White House spokesperson said. The request comes amid longstanding concerns in Washington and Tel Aviv over Sharaa’s past connections to extremist groups.

Ahmed al-Sharaa, also known by the alias Abu Mohammed al-Golani, is serving as Syria’s interim president. He has a complex and controversial background, having previously been affiliated with al-Qaeda and ISIS.

He later founded the al-Nusra Front, a group that initially operated as al-Qaeda’s branch in Syria before separating and rebranding as Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS).

The sanctions removal marks a reversal in U.S. policy, and some members of Trump’s own administration had reportedly voiced reservations due to Sharaa’s earlier involvement with Al Qaeda.

However, Trump defended the decision in a speech delivered Tuesday in Riyadh, calling it a necessary step toward regional stability.

The policy shift drew support from Saudi Arabia and Turkey. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan joined the discussions virtually, according to Turkey’s Anadolu Agency. Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman publicly welcomed the sanctions relief during the summit.

The Israeli government has remained silent so far, but officials there have repeatedly described Sharaa as a radical figure. Although Sharaa renounced ties to Al Qaeda in 2016, Israeli authorities have remained skeptical of his leadership.

Sharaa assumed control after the fall of former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in December 2024. His Islamist administration has struggled to assert full control across Syria, particularly after renewed violence in March when clashes between Assad loyalists and Islamist government forces led to retaliation attacks that killed hundreds of civilians, mostly from the Alawite community.

Sharaa was previously associated with Al Qaeda’s Syrian affiliate and had spent five years imprisoned by U.S. forces in Iraq. In December, the U.S. government dropped a $10 million reward previously offered for his capture.

U.S. President Donald Trump and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman speaks as they meet delegations during an arrival ceremony at the Royal Palace in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, May 13, 2025. Photo: The White House

Trump’s visit to the Gulf region includes multiple stops. In Riyadh, Saudi Arabia committed to investing $600 billion in U.S. sectors, alongside $142 billion in defense contracts.

Later Wednesday, the president is expected to arrive in Doha for a state visit with Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani.

Qatar is anticipated to unveil significant investment plans in the United States, including a possible deal for Qatar Airways to acquire roughly 100 widebody aircraft from Boeing, a person familiar with the matter said.

In addition, the White House confirmed that the U.S. will accept a Boeing 747-8 aircraft—donated by Qatar—as a future Air Force One replacement.

The jet, reportedly intended for eventual display at Trump’s presidential library, has stirred bipartisan concern in Washington over the ethics of accepting such a high-value gift.

Trump is scheduled to meet with United Arab Emirates leaders in Abu Dhabi on Thursday.

While the trip is set to conclude on Friday in Washington, Trump has indicated he may divert to Turkey if a trilateral meeting involving Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky materializes.

(With files from Reuters)