In a groundbreaking diplomatic move, U.S. President Donald Trump met with Syrian President Ahmed Al-Sharah on Wednesday in Riyadh, marking the first encounter between American and Syrian leaders in over two decades.

The meeting took place on the sidelines of the U.S.-Gulf Summit and was attended by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan (virtually), and the foreign ministers of both countries—Mark Rubio for the U.S. and Asaad Al-Shibani for Syria.

A Shift in U.S. Policy: Sanctions Lifted

During the summit, President Trump announced that the U.S. was exploring normalization with Syria and confirmed the lifting of sanctions on Damascus as a gesture of goodwill to offer the country a new opportunity.

The Syrian Foreign Ministry welcomed the meeting as "historic," stating it focused on the need to lift sanctions, support reconstruction, and reaffirm a joint U.S.-Syrian stance against terrorism, particularly against ISIS.

Regional Support and Strategic Coordination

Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman stressed the importance of ending sanctions to stabilize the region, while President Erdoğan emphasized that Syria must become a peaceful, stable partner in the region. He reaffirmed Turkey’s commitment to supporting Syria in its fight against terrorist groups.

U.S. Demands and Economic Cooperation

According to the White House, Trump requested Syria’s assistance in preventing the resurgence of ISIS, urged it to join the Abraham Accords with Israel, and called for the extradition of what he termed “Palestinian terrorists.”

Trump also encouraged American companies to invest in Syria's oil and gas sector, while President Al-Sharah proposed a major real estate venture — a “Trump Tower” in Damascus — as part of a broader economic deal.