On May 13, 2025, during a summit in Riyadh, U.S. President Donald Trump met with Syria’s interim president, Ahmed al-Sharaa, marking the first high-level U.S.-Syria talks in 25 years. This meeting followed Trump’s announcement to lift all U.S. sanctions on Syria, a significant policy shift aimed at supporting the country’s reconstruction efforts .
Trump expressed interest in normalizing relations with Syria and urged President al-Sharaa to establish diplomatic ties with Israel, aligning with the Abraham Accords, which have previously facilitated normalization between Israel and several Arab nations . The meeting was facilitated by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, both of whom participated virtually .
Despite al-Sharaa’s controversial past, including his former affiliation with al-Qaeda and leadership of the Nusra Front, his administration has received support from Saudi Arabia and Turkey. Israeli officials have expressed concerns, continuing to label al-Sharaa as a jihadist, although he severed ties with al-Qaeda in 2016 .
This development signifies a potential shift in U.S. foreign policy towards Syria and the broader Middle East, with implications for regional dynamics and international relations.