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Friday, Mar 13, 2026
Outside the box.
Syria’s President Ahmed al-Sharaa Set for Historic White House Visit on November 10
First visit by a Syrian head of state to Washington as Syria and U.S. open a new chapter, including talks on sanctions and security
President Ahmed al-Sharaa of Syria will visit the White House around November 10 for talks with U.S. President Donald Trump, Syrian Foreign Minister Asad al-Shaibani and U.S. sources have confirmed.
This would mark the first official visit by a Syrian head of state to Washington.
The visit follows Sharaa’s address to the United Nations General Assembly in New York in September, his first such appearance by a Syrian leader in nearly six decades.
His government, formed after the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime in December 2024, is now seeking to re-establish Syria’s international standing.
According to P.M. Hegseth and others, the agenda will include lifting U.S. sanctions, reconstruction financing for Syria, and building “a very strong partnership” with Washington.
U.S. Special Envoy Tom Barrack indicated that Syria’s joining the U.S.-led coalition against the Islamic State group is a key objective for the meeting.
The choice of Washington for the visit signals a strategic realignment: after years of diplomatic isolation and extensive sanctions, Syria and the United States appear to be moving toward engagement rather than estrangement.
The meeting also takes place amid ongoing talks, mediated by the U.S., between Syria and Israel on de-escalation of Israeli military operations in southern Syria.
While the re-engagement has drawn concern from some quarters, the Syrian leadership presents the visit as a turning point.
For Washington, the meeting offers an opportunity to anchor a new partnership in the Middle East focused on stability, counter-terrorism and reconstruction.
A successful visit could mark the most significant shift in U.S.–Syria relations in decades.
This would mark the first official visit by a Syrian head of state to Washington.
The visit follows Sharaa’s address to the United Nations General Assembly in New York in September, his first such appearance by a Syrian leader in nearly six decades.
His government, formed after the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime in December 2024, is now seeking to re-establish Syria’s international standing.
According to P.M. Hegseth and others, the agenda will include lifting U.S. sanctions, reconstruction financing for Syria, and building “a very strong partnership” with Washington.
U.S. Special Envoy Tom Barrack indicated that Syria’s joining the U.S.-led coalition against the Islamic State group is a key objective for the meeting.
The choice of Washington for the visit signals a strategic realignment: after years of diplomatic isolation and extensive sanctions, Syria and the United States appear to be moving toward engagement rather than estrangement.
The meeting also takes place amid ongoing talks, mediated by the U.S., between Syria and Israel on de-escalation of Israeli military operations in southern Syria.
While the re-engagement has drawn concern from some quarters, the Syrian leadership presents the visit as a turning point.
For Washington, the meeting offers an opportunity to anchor a new partnership in the Middle East focused on stability, counter-terrorism and reconstruction.
A successful visit could mark the most significant shift in U.S.–Syria relations in decades.
