Donald Trump met with Syrian President Ahmed al-Saraa in the morning, a day after announcing the lifting of U.S. sanctions. Present at the meeting—seen as a significant shift in U.S. foreign policy—was Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, while Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan joined via phone.
A spokesperson from the White House reported that Trump urged al-Saraa to “expel Palestinian terrorists” and assist in preventing a resurgence of the Islamic State. He encouraged Syria to sign the Abraham Accords with Israel. In return, al-Saraa extended an invitation for American investment in Syria’s oil and gas sectors.
The meeting marked a warm atmosphere, representing the first official encounter between a U.S. president and the Syrian leader in 25 years, signaling an end to decades of diplomatic isolation for Damascus. The last such high-level meeting occurred in 2000 when then-President Bill Clinton met Hafez al-Assad—father of the recently ousted Bashar al-Assad—in a failed peace initiative.
While addressing a summit with leaders from six Arab nations, Trump called the previous sanctions “truly exhausting” and expressed that the U.S. is progressing toward normalizing relations with Syria, stating, “I felt very strongly that this move would give them a chance.”
Erdogan commended Trump’s decision to lift sanctions
During the teleconference, Erdogan lauded Trump’s sanction lift as “historically significant,” reaffirming Turkey’s support for the Syrian government in its anti-terrorism efforts, particularly against ISIS. He expressed hope that the U.S. move would influence other nations to follow suit.
“The U.S. decision to lift sanctions on Syria will serve as a model for other sanction-imposing countries,” he said.
Erdogan also addressed the situation in the Gaza Strip, stating, “We continue our efforts to halt the cycle of violence in Gaza. It’s time to end the humanitarian tragedy there.”
Trump’s Policy Shift
A White House official noted that Trump and al-Saraa’s discussion lasted about thirty minutes.
The meeting was the culmination of months of diplomatic efforts by Syria and its Turkish and Saudi allies, who believed engaging with Trump could help lift Syria’s international isolation.
Damascus had prepared a proposal for Trump that included Syrian oil access, security guarantees for Israel, and a proposition to build a Trump Tower in Damascus.
Syria views the meeting as a pivotal step toward recognizing its new administration’s legitimacy following Bashar al-Assad’s ousting. The Trump administration had previously hesitated to engage with al-Saraa.
The U.S. State Department had issued a lengthy list of conditions for lifting sanctions and was negotiating when Trump suddenly declared the sanctions’ lifting on Tuesday night.
While European nations have eased sanctions on Syria, the U.S. had maintained a complex system of economic restrictions that, combined with the war, brought Syria to the edge of economic collapse.
Trump unveiled the sanctions’ removal during a speech at a business forum in Riyadh, where he is visiting. He indicated the decision followed discussions with Saudi Arabia and Turkey’s Erdogan.
“I will request the lifting of sanctions on Syria so it has the chance to rise as a great power. Good luck, Syria—show us something truly special,” Trump said, receiving applause from the audience.
Trump in Qatar
Following Riyadh, Trump is continuing his Middle East tour with an official visit to Qatar.
The White House schedule indicates that Trump is expected to arrive at Hamad International Airport in Doha within the hour, followed by a visit to the Amiri Diwan, the seat of the Qatari government.
At 4:00 PM (local time), he will arrive at the St. Regis Doha hotel for a formal state welcome ceremony. Later, at 8:00 PM, he will attend a dinner at the Lusail Palace with high-ranking Qatari officials and business leaders.
