Monitoring Desk
In a surprise diplomatic maneuver, U.S. President Donald Trump met with Syria’s interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa in Saudi Arabia on Wednesday, urging him to normalize relations with Israel following Washington’s unexpected announcement to lift sanctions on Damascus.
The meeting marked a historic first between a U.S. leader and a Syrian president since the start of Syria’s civil conflict. According to the White House, Trump encouraged Sharaa to follow in the footsteps of the UAE, Bahrain, and Morocco, which signed the U.S.-brokered Abraham Accords to establish formal ties with Israel in 2020.
“I told him, ‘I hope you’re going to join when it’s straightened out.’ He said, ‘Yes.’ But they have a lot of work to do,” Trump told reporters, according to a White House pool report.
The encounter took place in Riyadh in the presence of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. Photos aired by Saudi state television showed the leaders shaking hands. Trump praised Sharaa, who previously led a group once affiliated with Al Qaeda, calling him “a young, attractive guy with a very strong past” and stating, “He’s got a real shot at holding it together.”
Trump’s overture toward Syria has sparked concern in Israel, which opposes lifting sanctions on the Syrian regime. Israeli officials argue that easing restrictions could pave the way for increased international engagement and financial inflows that may ultimately strengthen Damascus, a longtime regional adversary.
Despite Israel’s unease, Trump insisted that his relationships in the Middle East are “very good for Israel,” even as his current trip notably excludes a stop in Jerusalem.
Following his visit to Saudi Arabia, Trump flew to Qatar, where he presided over the signing of a deal for the Gulf nation to purchase Boeing aircraft. Notably, Qatar has also reportedly offered to donate a Boeing jet to be used as the official U.S. presidential aircraft—an offer that has raised ethical and security concerns in Washington, given the gift’s unprecedented value.
At an event in Lusail Palace, Trump was seen holding a soccer ball alongside Qatari Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and FIFA President Gianni Infantino, underscoring the celebratory mood surrounding the Qatar leg of the trip.
Trump’s four-day tour of the Gulf region highlights the deepening intersection of U.S. diplomacy, defense industry deals, and personal business interests, as his real estate ventures expand across several oil-rich nations.
