On Nov. 10, Syrian President Ahmed Al-Sharaa visited U.S. President Donald Trump in the White House. The event signals the re-establishment of the diplomatic relations between the two powers, which have long been stagnant.
The meeting dealt with key economic and security issues, ranging from the “Cesar sanctions” on Syria, Syria’s tense relations with Israel, and its partnership with the U.S.-led Global Coalition to Defeat the Islamic State. The meeting may represent the opening a new era for the two countries’ bilateral relations, which, due to mutual interests, could soon be closer than ever.
The meeting ended with great optimism on both sides. President Trump, speaking to reporters, reaffirmed his commitment to the Syrian leader, stating that the US will “do everything to make Syria successful,” according to Reuters. Following the meeting, the Treasury Department additionally promised “continued sanctions relief” to Syria, further validating Trump’s words. Regarding Syria’s contentious relations with Israel, Trump also said that Al-Sharaa was “doing a great job.”
Al-Sharaa said that the meeting focused on the potential for Syria to become a “geopolitical partner of Washington,” according to BBC. Syria’s comeback in the diplomatic international arena, and its reconciliation with the U.S., may also lift Trump’s tariffs on the nation.
Syria, in fact, is currently facing hard times, mainly caused by the strong economic pressure coming from the international community. Earlier this month, as reported by Al-Jazeera, al-Sharaa called for the lifting of all sanctions, further demonstrating his commitment to re-branding Syria’s image.
Following its international rehabilitation, Syria seeks to reach a permanent removal of the so called “Cesar sanctions” imposed by the U.S., which have a great impact on the Syrian economy. Trump is fully aware of the economic leverage he wields over Syria, which he could easily use to secure a key alliance in the Middle East. In exchange for lifting sanctions on Damascus, President Trump can convince Syria to align with two major American geopolitical goals: combating ISIS and normalizing relations with Israel.
This meeting marks a dramatic break from historical Syrian-American relations, often marred by tensions and rifts. During the Cold War, Damascus’ proximity to Moscow strongly strained Syria’s relations with the U.S., while the U.S.’ support of Israel continued to hamper cooperation.
Following Bill Clinton’s unsuccessful attempts to restore peaceful relations, the two countries officially cut ties in 2003, when, following Syria’s alleged support for armed groups in Lebanon and Iraq, the U.S. imposed heavy sanctions.
The two countries’ meeting is all the more surprising given Al-Sharaa’s past affiliation with Al-Qaeda. In 2024, however, following its contribution to the toppling of Al-Assad’s regime, he gained strong domestic support, being appointed as interim president shortly afterwards. Gaining power then led him to seek for international recognition, meeting leaders such as French president Emmanuel Macron and Russian president Vladimir Putin. The reconciliation process with the US kickstarted in May, when Al-Sharaa met Trump in Riyadh for the first time.
Ultimately, Al-Sharaa’s visit to the White House represents a major comeback for Syria, crowning a year focused on public diplomacy and the rehabilitation of the Syrian image on the international stage. It marks not only Syria’s diplomatic reappearance globally, but also the start of a new phase in its ties with Washington, where political pragmatism and shared interests now appear to outweigh past hostilities.