Trump Meets Syrian Leader Ahead of Gulf Summit, Signals Shift in U.S. Policy
On Wednesday, the President of the United States, Donald Trump, in a diplomatic move, held a meeting with Syria’s president in Saudi Arabia. On May 13, 2025, the United States made an unexpected announcement about lifting all U.S. sanctions on Syria’s new Islamist-led government under President Ahmed al-Sharaa. This move suggests the US wanted to normalize ties with Damascus.
President Trump announced met with the newly elected President Ahmed al-Sharaa in the presence of Saudi Arabia’s crown prince. It is also worth mentioning that Trump is currently at a summit for US and Gulf Countries.
A White House representative stated that Trump also encouraged President Sharaa to normalise ties with Israel,
Despite fears in segments of his administration of prior connection to Al Qaeda by Syria’s leaders, Trump said on Tuesday in his speech in Riyadh that he would remove sanctions on Syria in one of his major policy changes.
Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan joined Trump and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, also known as MbS, virtually in the meeting, said Anadolu News Agency.
It is a huge fillip to President Sharaa, who has been trying hard to make the country come under the fold of the Damascus government after toppling former President Bashar al-Assad in December.
The problems were exposed in March when Assad loyalists attacked the government forces which forced revenge attacks where Islamist gunmen killed hundreds of civilians from the Alawite minority, condemned strongly by the US.
