In a moment that took many by surprise, US President Donald Trump met with Syria’s interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa—a meeting that could mark the beginning of a dramatic shift in decades of strained relations between Washington and Damascus.
The two leaders came face-to-face in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, just ahead of a high-level summit with Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) members. It was the first time in 25 years that leaders from the US and Syria sat down together, sparking cautious optimism and plenty of global attention.
Speaking to GCC leaders, Trump didn’t hold back. “With the support of the great leaders in this room, we are currently exploring normalising relations with Syria’s new government,” he announced. His words carried weight—especially when he followed up with a bold promise: the United States will lift all sanctions currently imposed on Syria.
“This is about giving Syria a fresh start,” Trump added. “We will be dropping all sanctions.”
Photos from the meeting—shared widely on Saudi state media—showed President Trump shaking hands with al-Sharaa in the presence of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS). For many, the image of these leaders together sent a powerful message: reconciliation may finally be on the horizon.
Al-Sharaa, once aligned with opposition forces and even linked to extremist groups, now finds himself at the center of potential global reintegration. His rise to interim president was unexpected, and so too is this push for diplomacy.
While it’s still early days, this handshake could be remembered as the first step toward healing a fractured relationship—and possibly rebuilding a war-torn nation.
