Chicago Wednesday, May 14, 2025
Trump Meets Syria’s Interim Leader Amid Promise to Lift Sanctions
On Wednesday, President Trump held a half-hour meeting with Syria’s interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa during his visit to Saudi Arabia. The meeting, a last-minute addition to his itinerary, came shortly after Trump announced his decision to lift U.S. sanctions on Syria, a move Syria’s foreign minister praised as “crucial” for the country’s recovery after more than a decade of civil war and global isolation.
“The sanctions were extremely tough and restrictive,” Trump said while addressing the Gulf Cooperation Council. He added that lifting them would offer Syria “a real chance at greatness,” though acknowledging the path ahead would be difficult. Trump also noted that he acted at the request of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
According to White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt, Trump urged Sharaa to normalize diplomatic ties with Israel through the Abraham Accords and to take strong action against terrorism. While the White House released a photo of the meeting, reporters traveling with the president were not permitted inside.
The U.S. had imposed several rounds of sanctions on Syria over the past two decades, primarily targeting Bashar al-Assad’s regime. Assad rose to power following the death of his father, Hafez al-Assad, who had ruled Syria for decades through authoritarian means. However, sanctions remained in effect even after Bashar fled the country in December, following a rapid military offensive led by Sharaa and his rebel alliance.
Sharaa had previously been labeled a terrorist by the U.S. due to his past affiliations with al-Qaida and ISIS. That designation was quickly lifted after he pledged to form an inclusive government that would safeguard the rights of Syria’s diverse ethnic and religious communities.
Despite these assurances, international skepticism persisted. Continued violent clashes between forces loyal to Sharaa and ethnic minority groups have raised concerns that he might rely on authoritarian tactics to retain power.
