U.S. President Donald Trump hosted Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa at the White House on Monday, marking the first time that a Syrian head of state has visited Washington in almost 80 years. The meeting—notable also for Sharaa’s history as the leader of al Qaeda’s Syria affiliate—represents a major thawing of relations with the onetime pariah state.
Sharaa is hoping to use that “tough guy” image to strike a deal with the United States to permanently lift U.S. sanctions on Syria. In 2019, Trump imposed sanctions under the Caesar Act to punish Damascus for alleged widespread human rights abuses under Assad’s regime. But in June, Trump waived those penalties via an executive order, citing the need to “give Syrians a chance at greatness.”
U.S. President Donald Trump hosted Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa at the White House on Monday, marking the first time that a Syrian head of state has visited Washington in almost 80 years. The meeting—notable also for Sharaa’s history as the leader of al Qaeda’s Syria affiliate—represents a major thawing of relations with the onetime pariah state.
Sharaa is hoping to use that “tough guy” image to strike a deal with the United States to permanently lift U.S. sanctions on Syria. In 2019, Trump imposed sanctions under the Caesar Act to punish Damascus for alleged widespread human rights abuses under Assad’s regime. But in June, Trump waived those penalties via an executive order, citing the need to “give Syrians a chance at greatness.”
Trump appeared to try to appease Sharaa’s demands on Monday by having the Treasury Department announce that it is halting most sanctions on Syria, except for those involving transactions with Russia and Iran. But Sharaa seeks a permanent solution, which requires an act of Congress, and U.S. lawmakers appear hesitant to grant such a request unless Damascus adheres to several conditions, such as guaranteeing religious pluralism in the country and improving ties with Israel.
But Sharaa is not the only one seeking to gain from a new U.S.-Syria partnership. Trump is hoping to convince Damascus to join Washington’s 89-country coalition dedicated to fighting the Islamic State—something that Syria’s new military and its Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces already do. He also aims to expand the Abraham Accords by having Syria formalize ties with Israel, establish a military presence at Mezzeh airbase in Damascus, and build a Trump Tower in the capital.
Read more in today’s World Brief: Sharaa’s White House Visit Marks a Reshaping of the Regional Order.
This post is part of FP’s ongoing coverage of the Trump administration. Follow along here.
