U.S. President Donald Trump met with Syria’s interim leader, Ahmed al-Sharaa, in a rare diplomatic engagement during his visit to Riyadh, signaling a potential thaw in relations between Washington and Damascus after decades of estrangement.
The meeting, which took place on the sidelines of the Gulf Cooperation Council summit, marks a significant departure from previous U.S. policy. Trump suggested the U.S. is open to re-establishing formal ties with Syria if the country demonstrates genuine efforts to expel foreign militants and cut off support for extremist elements operating within its borders.
He also floated the possibility of Syria participating in broader regional peace frameworks, such as the Abraham Accords — a move that would require Syria to reconsider its stance on Israel, a highly sensitive issue given its historical opposition.
“We are assessing all options to move toward a peaceful and stable future for the region,” Trump said, emphasizing that any normalization would be conditional on Syria’s internal reforms and regional behavior.
Al-Sharaa has not issued a formal response, but sources close to his administration say he is open to international engagement, provided it respects Syrian sovereignty and development goals.
Trump’s remarks come amid broader diplomatic efforts in the region, where U.S. allies like Saudi Arabia and Turkey appear increasingly supportive of reintegrating Syria into the international fold. Israel, however, has expressed concerns, pointing to the requirement for stringent assurances about Syria’s future behaviour.
The U.S. president’s stop in Riyadh also included high-stakes economic and defense deals exceeding $700 billion, underscoring the strategic significance of his Middle East tour, which will next take him to Qatar and the UAE for continued diplomatic outreach.
