Syria’s interim President al-Sharaa expected to meet with Trump in first visit by Syrian leader to White House
In a significant diplomatic development, Syria’s interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa is set to make his first official visit to Washington, D.C., where he will meet with President Donald Trump on November 10. This meeting marks a historic moment as it is the first time a Syrian president has visited the U.S. capital. The meeting was confirmed by a White House official and initially reported by Axios. Al-Sharaa, who previously went by the name Abu Mohammad al-Jolani, is a former leader of al-Qaeda and has been a pivotal figure in the Syrian conflict, leading the rebel offensive that resulted in the ousting of former President Bashar al-Assad. Trump has previously praised al-Sharaa, describing him as a “young, attractive guy” and a “tough guy” with a “strong past,” suggesting that he believes al-Sharaa has the potential to stabilize the region.
The backdrop of this meeting involves a significant shift in U.S. policy towards Syria, particularly regarding the designation of al-Sharaa’s group, Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham, which was classified as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) by the U.S. State Department. In June, Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced that the Trump administration would revoke this designation as part of a broader effort to reset relations with Syria. This move aligns with Trump’s vision of fostering a “stable, unified, and peaceful Syria.” The administration’s willingness to lift the Caesar sanctions—some of the most stringent sanctions imposed on Syria—has been a contentious issue, facing procedural hurdles in Congress. The Caesar sanctions were established to penalize individuals and entities supporting Assad’s regime, named after a defector who exposed the regime’s atrocities. The Trump administration is advocating for the repeal of these sanctions through the National Defense Authorization Act, signaling a potential shift in U.S. strategy in the Middle East.
This upcoming meeting between Trump and al-Sharaa underscores a broader realignment in U.S. foreign policy, particularly in relation to the Middle East and the Syrian conflict. With Trump’s administration seeking to strengthen ties with key regional players, including Saudi Arabia, the dynamics of U.S.-Syria relations are poised for a significant transformation. The potential lifting of sanctions and the recognition of al-Sharaa’s leadership could reshape the landscape of the Syrian conflict and influence the future of U.S. involvement in the region. As the world watches this historic meeting, the implications for both Syria and U.S. foreign policy remain to be seen.
Related articles:
– Link 1
– Link 2
Syria’s interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa is expected to visit Washington, D.C., and meet with President
Donald Trump
next week, the first official visit by a Syrian president to the U.S. capital.
A White House official confirmed to Fox News Digital that the meeting was planned for Nov. 10. News of the meeting was first reported by Axios.
Trump and al-Sharaa met for the first time in May on the sidelines of the president’s trip to Saudi Arabia.
“Young, attractive guy, tough guy,” Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One after meeting al-Sharaa, who is a
former al Qaeda leader
. “Strong past, very strong past — fighter. He’s got a real shot at holding it together.”
SAUDI ARABIA’S 40-YEAR-OLD DISRUPTOR: HOW MBS REWIRED THE KINGDOM IN 10 SHORT YEARS
Al-Sharaa, formerly known by the nom de guerre Abu Mohammad al-Jolani, led the rebel offensive in December that toppled former
Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad’s regime
.
His group,
Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham
, was designated by the U.S. State Department as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO). Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced in June that the Trump administration would remove the label amid the president’s efforts to reset U.S.-Syria ties.
“This FTO revocation is an important step in fulfilling President Trump’s vision of a stable, unified, and peaceful Syria,” Rubio said in a statement.
TRUMP TAPS DETROIT ENTREPRENEUR MARK SAVAYA, WHO BOOSTED MUSLIM TURNOUT, AS SPECIAL ENVOY TO IRAQ
Trump received a standing ovation in Riyadh after announcing his administration would order the cessation of
sanctions against Syria
in order to “give them a chance at greatness.”
“Oh, what I do for the crown prince,” he joked, referring to Saudi Arabia’s de facto leader, Mohammed bin-Salman, who pushed Trump to meet with Syria’s new leader.
Efforts to lift the Caesar sanctions, the strongest sanctions on Syria, have faced procedural delays in Congress.
A U.S. State Department spokesperson
told Reuters on Friday
that the Trump administration supports repealing the Caesar sanctions through the National Defense Authorization Act bill, which is under discussion by U.S. lawmakers.
The bill, which was named after a Syrian army defector who smuggled thousands of images documenting torture and executions in Bashar al-Assad’s prisons, targeted entities and individuals who provided support to Assad’s regime.
Eric
Eric is a seasoned journalist covering US Politics news.
