President Donald Trump met on Wednesday in Riydah, Saudi Arabia with Ahmed al-Sharaa at an economic summit hosted by the Saudi government. Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman was also present at the meeting.
Earlier in the summit, Trump had announced his plans to offer sanctions relief to Syria – a move Damascus has indicated it would be willing to make concessions for. “I will be ordering the cessation of sanctions against Syria in order to give them a chance at greatness,” Trump announced Tuesday.
Al-Sharaa, who led the terrorist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) in ousting Bashar al-Assad in December 2024, welcomed the sanctions relief, viewing it as a step toward Syria’s recovery. He reiterated his administration’s desire to improve relations with the U.S., emphasizing the need for dialogue and understanding. The meeting underscores a broader regional effort to stabilize Syria and promote peace in the Middle East.
At first glance, this meeting presents promise, however serious challenges remain. The U.S. still designates HTS as a terrorist organization, and Israel views al-Sharaa’s regime with suspicion, particularly due to ongoing military operations in Syria. The full lifting of sanctions and normalization of relations may depend on Syria’s actions in these areas. Trump’s end game is peace, and a diplomatic route to attain that goal. If Syria is serious about peace and achieving the greatness that Trump dangles over them like carrot, then they must fully renounce their jihad/terrorist ways. Only time will tell if the Trump effect brings about the desired development toward normalization of relations and a true and lasting peace in the region.