President Trump, along with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Syria’s interim president Ahmed al-Sharaa, had an unexpected meeting in Riyadh on Wednesday. The meeting took place on the sidelines of the Gulf Cooperation Council, where Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan joined in via phone call. This gathering came just one day after Trump made the bold move to lift all sanctions on Syria, a decision that garnered a standing ovation from Saudi business leaders at an investment forum the day before.
During the meeting, Trump urged al-Sharaa to sign the Abraham Accords, a move aimed at normalizing relations between Syria and Israel. Syria currently does not recognize Israel’s statehood, making this a significant ask from the US President. In addition to the Accords, Trump also pressed the Syrian leader to expel all foreign terrorists from the country, deport Palestinian terrorists, assist in preventing the resurgence of ISIS, and take responsibility for the ISIS detention centers in Northeast Syria. Despite the gravity of these requests, Trump expressed confidence in Syria’s new government, stating that he believed his decision to lift sanctions would provide them with a “good, strong chance” at progress.
Not really sure why this matters, but Trump’s meeting with al-Sharaa marks a potential turning point in US-Syria relations. The lifting of sanctions, coupled with the push for the Abraham Accords, demonstrates a shift in diplomatic strategy towards the Middle Eastern country. While the outcome of these discussions remains uncertain, the willingness of all parties involved to engage in dialogue suggests a glimmer of hope for future cooperation. Whether or not these efforts will lead to tangible results, only time will tell. But hey, at least they’re talking, right?
