In an unprecedented diplomatic gesture, former US President Donald Trump received Syrian interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa at the White House on Monday (10). This visit, which remained far from cameras and traditional protocol, represents the first time that a Syrian head of state, in this case a former jihadist leader who tops the FBI’s most wanted list, has been officially received in Washington since the country’s independence in 1946.
In an unprecedented diplomatic gesture, former US President Donald Trump received Syrian interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa at the White House on Monday (10). This visit, which remained far from cameras and traditional protocol, represents the first time that a Syrian head of state, in this case a former jihadist leader who tops the FBI’s most wanted list, has been officially received in Washington since the country’s independence in 1946.
With information from Vincent SoriaoRFI correspondent in Washington
After the meeting with Trump, Syria announced that it would join the international anti-jihadist coalition against ISIS, one of the main announcements of the Syrian president’s historic visit to Washington.
As for economic sanctions, Ahmed Al-Sharaa received a new extension of 180 days. In other words, a temporary exemption for six months. Donald Trump cannot do more than that, as these sanctions were approved in 2019 by Congress. The final decision – whether to suspend it permanently – rests with North American parliamentarians.
These are very strict measures taken at the time against the regime of Bashar al-Assad, which isolate Syria from the international banking system and prohibit investments or transactions in dollars. However, the White House knows that there is a lot to be rebuilt on Syrian soil, and that there is a lot of money at stake for American companies.
For months, the Trump administration has been putting pressure on lawmakers. The Senate has already said “yes” to ending sanctions. But the House of Representatives is still resisting. Some political figures publicly express concern about Syrian minorities. However, the American press also sees this as an influence of Israel, which runs a secret lobby with its political allies in the United States to keep Syria in its current state of economic fragility.
transformation
Ahmed Al-Sharaa (43 years old) led the Islamic coalition that overthrew Bashar al-Assad’s regime in December 2024, ending nearly 14 years of civil war. Until a few days before the visit, he was on the US list of international terrorists, with the FBI offering a $10 million reward for information leading to his arrest. The reason: his leadership of Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham, the former branch of al-Qaeda in Syria. An amazing transformation for the former jihadist who fought US forces in Iraq.
Analysts view Al-Sharaa’s transformation – from jihadist leader to diplomatic interlocutor – as a symbolic milestone for the new phase in Syria. Nick Heras, a Middle East affairs expert, said, “Trump is bringing Sharaa to the White House to show that he is no longer a terrorist, but rather a pragmatic and flexible leader who, with American and Saudi guidance, can turn Syria into a regional strategic pillar.”
During the meeting, which was held behind closed doors, Trump praised the Syrian leader: “He has a brutal past, and frankly, without a brutal past, you have no chance (of getting to power).” The former president also declared: “We will do everything in our power to make Syria successful.”
Suspension of sanctions and the US military base
The visit coincided with the US Treasury Department announcing a new 180-day suspension of the sanctions imposed under the Caesar Act, which since 2019 has imposed severe restrictions on Syrian financial transactions abroad. This measure had already been implemented last May, after the first meeting between Trump and Al-Sharaa in Saudi Arabia.
Diplomatic sources reported that the United States is planning to establish a military base near Damascus to coordinate humanitarian aid and monitor developments in relations between Syria and Israel. The base will also serve as a strategic point for surveillance and logistical operations, amid Washington’s attempt to mediate a security agreement between the two countries.
Rapprochement with Israel and the Abraham Accords
Al-Sharaa expressed his willingness to normalize relations with Israel, provided that “appropriate conditions” are met. In a meeting with US Congressman Corey Mills, the Syrian president expressed interest in joining the Abraham Accords – an initiative launched by Trump in 2020 that established diplomatic relations between Israel and Arab countries such as the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Morocco.
Despite the openness, Al-Sharaa avoided committing to direct negotiations, citing more than a thousand Israeli attacks on Syria in recent years and the need for security guarantees. In a diplomatic gesture, the new Syrian government arrested two leaders of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad movement, signaling its distance from Iran and the armed Palestinian factions.
Reconstruction and reintegration at the international level
Since assuming power, Al-Sharaa has sought to break with his extremist past and present a moderate image. In September, he addressed the UN General Assembly, the first Syrian leader to do so in nearly six decades. It is estimated that the reconstruction of Syria will require between 600 and 900 billion dollars, and the new government is betting on international investments to rebuild the country.
The visit to the White House represents the culmination of a diplomatic offensive that includes meetings with European and Arab leaders, as well as negotiations with Washington to reintegrate Syria into the global financial system.
With agencies
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