The Monday night meeting between President Donald Trump and Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa at the White House marked a dramatic turning point in relations between Washington and Damascus, signalling new directions in counterterrorism cooperation, economic policy, and international recognition of the once-reviled nation. It was al-Sharaa’s first visit to the US capital since taking power, and the first time any Syrian leader had been hosted at the White House. The summit represented a remarkable transformation for al-Sharaa, who until recently led Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, an armed Islamist group once designated by Washington as a terrorist organisation. Only the previous week, the US Treasury Department removed his name from its list of specially designated global terrorists.
The meeting had political, economic, and security aims, but for Syria the greatest achievement was securing long-sought international legitimacy. Speaking in the Oval Office, Trump said the United States wanted to see Syria become “very successful”. “We want to see Syria become a country that’s very successful, and I think this leader can do it. People say he’s had a rough past? We’ve all had rough pasts. But he has had a rough past, and I think frankly if he didn’t have a rough past, you wouldn’t have a chance.”
Al-Sharaa described the visit as the beginning of a “new era” of cooperation with the United States, focusing on Syria’s future as a geopolitical and economic partner of Washington. Since toppling Bashar al-Assad, he has sought to unify his war-torn nation and end its international isolation. His recent diplomatic successes have brought him a level of legitimacy no Syrian president has previously achieved. One immediate outcome of the meeting was an agreement allowing Syria to reopen its embassy in Washington, restoring diplomatic relations suspended since 2012.
Another major result was Syria’s commitment to join the international coalition against the Islamic State group, becoming its 90th member. The coalition aims to eliminate the remaining Islamic State presence and stop the flow of foreign militants to the Middle East. For al-Sharaa, the move completes his transformation from insurgent commander to recognised partner in global counterterrorism.
Counterterrorism cooperation is now one of the United States’ main priorities for Syria, and officials have said that Trump and al-Sharaa are closely aligned on the issue. In the days before the meeting, Syrian authorities claimed to have foiled two Islamic State plots to assassinate al-Sharaa. The Ministry of Interior also launched a national campaign to dismantle IS cells, arresting more than seventy suspects.
Coinciding with the summit, Washington announced a major easing of economic restrictions on Syria. The Trump administration introduced a 180-day suspension of the Caesar Act, which since 2019, had sanctioned the former Syrian government and prohibited American business dealings with Syrian state entities. The suspension is intended to support Syria’s efforts to rebuild its economy and improve living conditions for all citizens, including minority communities. It also aims to give clarity to foreign investors considering projects in the country.
Lifting the Caesar sanctions is central to al-Sharaa’s economic vision, offering him a chance to attract foreign capital. The Treasury Department said President Trump was delivering on his pledge to give Syria “a chance at greatness” by letting the country rebuild and thrive. However, the suspension excludes transactions involving Russia or Iran, or goods and technology originating from those nations.
Ahead of the visit, the United Nations Security Council voted to remove al-Sharaa from its terrorism sanctions list, a step promoted by the United States. This decision allows him to travel internationally without needing exemptions.
While both leaders publicly emphasised cooperation and progress, the regional situation remains complex, with several sensitive issues at stake. One priority for Washington is improving relations between Syria and Israel. Al-Sharaa is reportedly seeking a new security arrangement similar to the 1974 disengagement accord, aiming for the withdrawal of Israeli troops from areas occupied over the past year. Trump confirmed that he was working with Israel on “getting along with Syria” and hinted that further announcements could follow.
Another major issue concerns the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces, the former US ally against the Islamic State. The SDF had resisted integration into the Syrian state, but officials in Damascus now claim that an agreement has been reached, with US support, to incorporate its fighters into the national army. Washington has been quietly trying to broker a settlement between the two sides.
Despite his diplomatic success, al-Sharaa faces serious domestic challenges. His rule has seen violence targeting Syria’s Alawite minority, as well as clashes between Sunni Bedouin fighters and Druze militias in the south. To strengthen his legitimacy, al-Sharaa has pledged to hold popular elections during a five-year transitional period.
Since taking power, he has toured the Gulf states to attract investment for reconstruction. In September, he became the first Syrian president in nearly sixty years to address the United Nations General Assembly. The following month he visited Moscow and met President Vladimir Putin, once his battlefield rival. The two discussed cooperation in energy, transport, and tourism, including the development of Syria’s oil fields.
Despite the summit’s historic importance, al-Sharaa’s reception at the White House was noticeably subdued. He was not greeted on the steps by Trump, and he entered through a side door rather than the main entrance. The lack of ceremony reflected the administration’s caution in welcoming a leader once accused of terrorist ties.
Even so, Trump expressed satisfaction after the meeting. “I like him; I get along with him,” he said. “We’ll do everything we can to make Syria successful, because that’s part of the Middle East.”