Riyadh: President Donald Trump met Syria’s President Ahmed al-Sharaa in Saudi Arabia on Wednesday, shortly after Washington announced it would lift all sanctions on the war-torn country’s new Islamist-led government. The move marks a major foreign policy shift and opens the door to possible normalisation of ties between Washington and Damascus.
The two leaders shook hands in the presence of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman ahead of a US-Gulf summit. Trump, speaking at the forum, said the decision to lift sanctions came at the request of Saudi and Turkish leaders and was aimed at giving Syria “a chance at greatness.”
The sanctions had blocked foreign aid, trade, and investment for years during Bashar al-Assad’s rule. Their removal was greeted with celebrations in Damascus, where people took to the streets in joy.
Syria’s Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani called the US move “a historic turning point” and said it would allow the country to rebuild after 13 years of devastating civil war. “We can now look forward to stability, reconstruction, and self-sufficiency,” he said.
Under al-Sharaa’s interim government, which took over after Assad’s fall in December, Damascus has pushed hard for sanctions relief and international recognition. However, concerns remain as the ruling coalition includes Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), a group formerly linked to al-Qaeda.
Even so, former U.S. Ambassador to Syria Robert Ford backed the decision. “Syria is shattered. It needs capital and aid. Lifting sanctions makes recovery possible,” he told the BBC.
Trump said Washington would “closely monitor” Syria’s internal developments but stressed the importance of supporting peace and rebuilding. “This is Syria’s time to shine,” he said. Trump’s Middle East tour continues with visits to Qatar and the UAE.
