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Saturday, Dec 13, 2025
Outside the box.
Trump Meets Syrian President Ahmad al-Shara in Historic Encounter
First U.S.-Syria presidential meeting in 25 years follows announcement of U.S. sanctions relief on Damascus
U.S. President Donald Trump met with Syria’s new president, Ahmad al-Shara—also known as Abu Mohammad al-Julani—in a closed-door meeting held on the sidelines of a summit in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
The engagement marks the first direct dialogue between an American and Syrian president since the 2000 meeting between Bill Clinton and Hafez al-Assad in Geneva.
The encounter followed an announcement by the U.S. administration declaring the removal of long-standing economic sanctions against Syria.
According to reports, the decision was influenced by diplomatic overtures from Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.
Both leaders reportedly advocated for the meeting and broader regional engagement with Damascus.
Ahmad al-Shara, formerly a senior figure in al-Qaeda and the leader of the Islamist militant group Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham, assumed leadership of Syria after the fall of the Assad regime.
His political transformation and rebranding have attracted cautious international attention.
Al-Shara has previously been the subject of a U.S. bounty offering up to $10 million for information leading to his capture due to his involvement in militant activities in Iraq.
Officials in Washington have not released specific details about the meeting, including its attendees or discussion points.
However, reports indicate that Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman participated in person, while President Erdoğan joined remotely.
The meeting was not open to press coverage.
The policy shift toward Syria has drawn mixed reactions globally.
In Israel, some senior officials have expressed concerns regarding al-Shara’s past affiliations and potential strategic implications, warning of the risk of a militant-led regime gaining international legitimacy.
Despite this, al-Shara was recently received at the Élysée Palace in Paris, where he held talks with French President Emmanuel Macron.
Following the U.S. announcement, celebrations erupted across several Syrian cities, including Damascus, Latakia, Idlib, Tartus, Hama, and Homs.
Citizens were seen waving Syrian and Saudi flags, with some chanting slogans thanking Riyadh for its diplomatic role.
At least three people were reported killed in celebratory gunfire.
The U.S. sanctions, originally imposed under the Assad regime, had significantly curtailed Syria’s access to international financial systems, stifled foreign investment, and hampered reconstruction efforts.
The current administration has stated that the lifting of sanctions is intended to provide Syria with an opportunity to rebuild and rejoin the global economy.
The White House indicated that Secretary of State Marco Rubio is scheduled to meet with Syria’s foreign minister in Turkey later this week to continue diplomatic discussions.
President Trump is expected to continue his Middle East tour with upcoming visits to Qatar and the United Arab Emirates, following his participation in the Gulf Cooperation Council summit.
The engagement marks the first direct dialogue between an American and Syrian president since the 2000 meeting between Bill Clinton and Hafez al-Assad in Geneva.
The encounter followed an announcement by the U.S. administration declaring the removal of long-standing economic sanctions against Syria.
According to reports, the decision was influenced by diplomatic overtures from Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.
Both leaders reportedly advocated for the meeting and broader regional engagement with Damascus.
Ahmad al-Shara, formerly a senior figure in al-Qaeda and the leader of the Islamist militant group Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham, assumed leadership of Syria after the fall of the Assad regime.
His political transformation and rebranding have attracted cautious international attention.
Al-Shara has previously been the subject of a U.S. bounty offering up to $10 million for information leading to his capture due to his involvement in militant activities in Iraq.
Officials in Washington have not released specific details about the meeting, including its attendees or discussion points.
However, reports indicate that Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman participated in person, while President Erdoğan joined remotely.
The meeting was not open to press coverage.
The policy shift toward Syria has drawn mixed reactions globally.
In Israel, some senior officials have expressed concerns regarding al-Shara’s past affiliations and potential strategic implications, warning of the risk of a militant-led regime gaining international legitimacy.
Despite this, al-Shara was recently received at the Élysée Palace in Paris, where he held talks with French President Emmanuel Macron.
Following the U.S. announcement, celebrations erupted across several Syrian cities, including Damascus, Latakia, Idlib, Tartus, Hama, and Homs.
Citizens were seen waving Syrian and Saudi flags, with some chanting slogans thanking Riyadh for its diplomatic role.
At least three people were reported killed in celebratory gunfire.
The U.S. sanctions, originally imposed under the Assad regime, had significantly curtailed Syria’s access to international financial systems, stifled foreign investment, and hampered reconstruction efforts.
The current administration has stated that the lifting of sanctions is intended to provide Syria with an opportunity to rebuild and rejoin the global economy.
The White House indicated that Secretary of State Marco Rubio is scheduled to meet with Syria’s foreign minister in Turkey later this week to continue diplomatic discussions.
President Trump is expected to continue his Middle East tour with upcoming visits to Qatar and the United Arab Emirates, following his participation in the Gulf Cooperation Council summit.
