President Donald Trump arrived in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday for his first main worldwide journey since he obtained a job, hoping to safe main offers on Middle Eastern commerce and diplomatic breakthroughs.
The president might have an unexpectedly keen companion for Syrian new president.
President Trump seems to be open to new ties with Syria, together with the potential of crippling sanctions imposed below Bashar al-Assad’s earlier administration.
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President Donald Trump is on the left strolling alongside Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman at a welcoming ceremony held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on May 13, 2025 (palms by way of Bandar Algaud/Saudi Royal Court/Reuters)
President Trump instructed reporters within the Oval Office on Monday.
“We wish to see if we may help them,” the president added, including that the decision on Syrian sanctions can be made sooner or later.
“For the primary time, Syria has a robust authorities, not solely does it now not depend on Iran to outlive, however it is usually very hostile to Iran, so if the US doesn’t step up, it could be a terrific alternative,” Hall added.
Turkish President Recept Tayyip Erdogan and Syrian interim president Ahmad al-Shara will maintain a press convention after a gathering with the presidential organisation held in Ankara, Turkiye on February 4, 2025 (Mehmet Ali Ozkan/Anadoru by way of Getty Images)
Mouaz Moustafa, govt director of the Syrian Emergency Task Force, a nonprofit group that helps to introduce democracy in Syria, not too long ago met Ahmad Al-Sharaa, interim president of Syria in Damascus.
Mustafa and others are calling for a gathering between Alshara and President Trump once they go to the Bay this week. For the brand new Syrian authorities, this can be a chance to steer the brand new authorities to do enterprise with the nation that emerges from a devastating 14 years of civil battle, and to revise the connection between the Islamic state and the chief that when coincided with al-Qaeda.
“The objective of Syria is to maneuver ahead with why they wish to meet President Trump in Saudi Arabia, and to assist alleviate the considerations they’ve on the White House. And a few of the issues they’re making an attempt to do is to point out that they’ll work collectively on intelligence points and enterprise.
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Ford, Damascus’ final US ambassador, was pulled away from the embassy in October 2011 after the Syrian rebellion turned violent. Ford led an effort to place Alshara on the terrorist listing in 2012, saying he’s main a sensible however very weak authorities.
Although Ford would not suppose he’ll pursue terrorism the best way Alshara did up to now, there have been some promising developments since he got here to energy, however the US should hold that hope comparatively low.
“Syria could be very weak, with many inside political divisions, and really weak navy and economically. So it won’t be ready to signal a giant cope with the United States,” warned Ford.
People collect within the air at Umayyad Square in Damascus, Syria on December eighth to rejoice the collapse of the Syrian regime. (Ali Haji Suleiman/Getty Images)
“Damascus sees President Donald Trump as a frontrunner who can obtain peace within the Middle East,” the senior official added.
Moustafa additionally met with members of the National Security Council to speak the Syrian President’s need for a brand new partnership.
The new Syrian chief has already proven an urge for food to work collectively on a number of vital points which can be vital to the United States. The new Syrian authorities has cooperated with the US intelligence reporting company to dam a number of ISIS plots to assault Damascus. Syrian intelligence company additionally arrested ISIS commander Abu al-Haris al-Iraki in February.
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President Donald Trump says he’s welcoming the Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles NFL soccer crew on the White House’s South Lawn in Washington on Monday, April 28, 2025. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)
Moustafa additionally mentioned that Alshara is anxious in regards to the large accumulation of Iran-backed militias alongside the Iraqi facet of the Syrian border. This can be a priority for the US and the Trump administration, he mentioned, as it’s making an attempt to re-engage with Iran to curb its nuclear program.
In the eyes of Alshara, the commerce of the century will carry peace to neighbors, together with Syria and Israel. Moustafa added that the deal will block China, Russia and Iran and permit the US troops to return residence in the best manner.
However, critics warn that potential dealings with the US are usually not with out obstacles.
Hayat Taharil al-Sham, the chief of the jihadist group on the time, turned Syrian chief on February 7, 2023, will verify for harm following the earthquake within the northwest Idlib province of Syria’s rebels, on February 7, 2023, on the northwest Idlib province of the Syrian rebels, on the border with Turkey. (by way of Omar Haj Kadour/AFP Getty Images)
Alshara gained the Muslim insurgent group Hay’at Tahrir Al-Sham (HTS) over the Assad dictatorship in December. He had a $10 million bounty for his seize, which was lifted in February, amid efforts by the regime to talk to the brand new Syrian authorities.
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HTS stays a delegated international terrorist group, complicating doing enterprise in Syria.
The protesters carry a photograph and a placard of Ahmed al-Shara (Kolani). The saying goes, “Whether you are sporting a turban or a tie, the assassin is a assassin.” (Murat kocabas/sopa pictures/lightrocket by way of Getty Images)
Rose, who traveled to Syria not too long ago, famous that whereas HTS has regularly moved away from its affiliation with terrorist organizations and employs some reasonable parts over time, it’s nonetheless questionable that it “sticks” to the tensions of the sect, significantly current.
“Skeptics to elevate Syria’s restrictions are instantly afraid that something might transfer too shortly and will “have dangerous reliability amongst native counterparts,” Rose added.
Since turning into president, Alshara has shaped a transitional authorities consisting of shut allies from the HTS insurgent teams and a mix of technocrats, former opposition leaders, civil society activists and even former members of the Assad authorities.
The momentary structure signed by Alshara in March ensures elementary freedoms, together with freedom of opinion, expression and press. It additionally protects girls’s rights and guarantees equal rights to all Syrians, no matter ethnicity, non secular denomination or gender, however leaves the nation below Islamist rule through the transition course of.
There stay some considerations about energy which can be concentrated within the palms of the president. The president can unilaterally declare an emergency and droop primary rights when nationwide safety is threatened.
On February twenty fifth, 2019, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Alikhamenei greets the then Syrian president Bashar Assad in Tehran, Iran.
There is a brand new sense of optimism about its future inside Syrian society, however citizen peace and safety stay elusive.
A lethal sectarian conflict in March, launched by remnants of the previous Assad regime in Syria’s coastal areas, killed 200 members of safety forces. The troops allied with the federal government and armed civilians responded with wild forces. The Syrian Human Rights Network reported that these teams have been answerable for no less than 396 deaths.
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The Associated Press contributed to this report.