Once linked to the al-Qaeda, Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa has now become a figure of admiration for US President Donald Trump, who referred to him as a "young attractive guy". After meeting with al-Sharaa in Saudi Arabia on Wednesday, Trump expressed hope in his potential and said "he's got a real shot at holding it together".
Trump urged al-Sharaa to join countries such as the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Morocco, which normalised ties with Israel under the US-brokered Abraham Accords in 2020.
The US President has expressed interest in normalising relations with Syria, beginning with the historic meeting with al-Sharaa.
Al-Sharaa, who once pledged allegiance to al-Qaeda, rose to power at the head of a group that the US has long labelled as a terrorist organisation.
Trump has now signalled a major shift in US policy toward Syria by announcing plans to lift sanctions on the regime, a move that could redefine relations in the region. Despite resistance within some sectors of his administration over al-Sharaa's past ties to al-Qaeda, Trump has made it clear that he is pushing forward with plans to engage with Syria.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt shared the update about the meeting on X and said that "President Trump encouraged President al-Sharaa to do a great job for the Syrian people".
She said that Trump primarily urged al-Sharaa for five things:
1. To sign onto the Abraham Accords with Israel
2. Tell all foreign terrorists to leave Syria
3. Deport Palestinian terrorists
4. Help the US to prevent the resurgence of ISIS
5. Assume responsibility for ISIS detention centres in northeast Syria
Trump also announced major deals, including a USD 600 billion Saudi investment in the US and USD 142 billion in American arms sales to Saudi Arabia.
Source: Reuters
