In a surprising turn of events, President Donald Trump has met with Syrian president Ahmed al-Sharaa in Saudi Arabia after agreeing to lift sanctions on Syria. Despite concerns within sectors of his administration over al-Sharaa’s ties to Al Qaeda, Trump made the decision during a speech in Riyadh to lift the sanctions and extend an olive branch to the Syrian leader.
Al-Sharaa, a former insurgent leader who spent years imprisoned by US forces after being captured in Iraq, was named president of Syria in January. His rise to power came after an offensive led by insurgent groups, including his own Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, ended the 54-year rule of the Assad family.
Trump’s decision to meet with al-Sharaa came after encouragement from Saudi crown prince Mohammed bin Salman and Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. The meeting took place before Trump’s scheduled attendance at a meeting of the Gulf Cooperation Council and his visit to Qatar, where he will be honored with a state dinner.
During his foreign policy address, Trump emphasized the need for a stable and peaceful Syria and urged Iran to take a new and better path as he seeks a new nuclear deal. The United States and Saudi Arabia also signed a record-breaking $142 billion arms deal, highlighting Trump’s transactional foreign policy approach.
With this unexpected meeting and the lifting of sanctions, Trump is showing a willingness to engage with former foes and pursue new diplomatic opportunities in the volatile Middle East. As his Gulf tour continues, all eyes will be on Trump’s interactions with regional leaders and the potential impact on US foreign policy in the
Ghanaflare.com
