IRIA News

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Syrian President Ahmed Al Sharaa met with U.S. President Donald Trump in Washington on November 10, marking the first official visit by a Syrian leader to the White House since the country gained independence in 1946.

Syria is joining the global coalition against the Islamic State group. “Syria announced that it is joining the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS,” becoming the 90th member of the alliance and “partnering with the United States to eliminate ISIS remnants and halt foreign fighter flows,” according to a senior U.S. official.

United States is also allowing Syria “to resume operations at its Embassy in Washington to further counterterrorism, security, and economic coordination,” the U.S. administration official added.

According to Syria’s Foreign Minister Asaad Al Shaibani, the meeting covered “the subject of Syria in all its aspects,” including the country’s unity, reconstruction, and the lifting of sanctions imposed during the 13-year civil war. “The Syrian people always deserve a better future,” Al Shaibani said in a statement posted on X.

The Syrian Foreign Ministry later called the visit “historic and unprecedented,” adding that the meeting, which lasted more than an hour, took place in a “friendly and constructive atmosphere.”

The statement said President Trump “expressed his admiration for Syria’s new leadership and the Syrian people, praising Syria’s efforts in restoring stability and liberation throughout the country.”

Trump reaffirmed the United States’ “readiness to provide the necessary support” to assist Syria’s reconstruction and economic recovery.

Following the talks, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, and Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Al Shaibani held a working session at the White House to “establish clear mechanisms” for implementing the agreements reached by Presidents Trump and Sharaa.

According to the Syrian Foreign Ministry, the session focused on setting up technical committees to monitor progress in key areas, including counterterrorism cooperation, post-war reconstruction, and the reintegration of armed factions into national security structures.

Diplomatic sources said Turkey’s participation was aimed at ensuring coordination on border security, refugee repatriation, and the future status of northern Syria. The meeting underscored the administration’s goal of transforming high-level political commitments into concrete, operational steps on the ground.

Syria’s Reconstruction and Sanctions Relief

The key agenda of the meeting between the U.S. and Syrian presidents was the status of U.S. sanctions imposed under the Caesar Syria Civilian Protection Act of 2019.

The act was introduced to penalize the Assad government for human rights abuses during the civil war. Since Sharaa’s rise to power after toppling Bashar Al Assad late last year, Washington has gradually eased some measures, but full removal still requires congressional approval.

Trump announced an extension of the Treasury Department’s suspension of enforcement of certain Caesar Act sanctions for another 180 days, signaling further steps toward normalization. “We’ll do everything we can to make Syria successful,” Trump said after the meeting, describing Sharaa as a “strong leader” and adding, “We’ve all had rough pasts.”

The U.S. president had previously met Sharaa in Riyadh in May during a Gulf Cooperation Council summit, where he first announced plans to lift sanctions.

The Syrian leader, once sanctioned by Washington and wanted under a $10 million bounty as a militant commander, has since undertaken a global diplomatic campaign to rebrand himself as a moderate statesman seeking peace and economic revival.

Security and Anti-Terrorism Cooperation

The White House talks also focused on regional security. Both sides agreed to advance the “March 10 Agreement,” which aims to integrate the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) into the Syrian Arab Army as part of broader efforts to unify national institutions and strengthen internal security.

U.S. officials praised Syria’s recent efforts to combat remnants of the Islamic State group (ISIS), including nationwide operations that led to dozens of arrests and the seizure of weapons.

Syria has also pledged to cooperate more closely with the U.S.-led coalition against ISIS. State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott said the U.S. recognized “the progress demonstrated by the Syrian leadership after the departure of Bashar Al Assad and more than 50 years of repression under the Assad regime.”

He noted that Sharaa’s government had taken steps to meet American conditions, including cooperation in locating missing U.S. citizens and eliminating remaining chemical weapons. “These actions promote regional stability and support a Syrian-led political process,” Pigott said.

Israel and Regional Stability

The U.S. side also expressed support for a potential Syrian-Israeli security agreement aimed at easing regional tensions. Israel has repeatedly struck targets in Syria since the fall of Assad, citing security concerns over Iranian influence and Hezbollah’s activities.

Trump said he hoped Syria and Israel could eventually “normalize relations,” emphasizing that a Syria independent from Tehran’s orbit would represent “a strategic win” for the region.

Israeli officials have voiced reservations about a complete lifting of U.S. sanctions, warning it could weaken Washington’s leverage over Damascus. Nonetheless, sources in both countries confirmed that U.S.-mediated talks are ongoing, focusing on demilitarization zones and local security guarantees in southwestern Syria.

Economic Outlook and Future Challenges

Sharaa’s administration faces immense economic challenges after more than a decade of conflict. The World Bank estimates reconstruction costs at over $200 billion. During recent meetings with international financial institutions, including the IMF, Syrian officials have sought to attract investment and open the country’s long-isolated economy.

Domestically, the transitional government continues to face divisions among ethnic and sectarian groups, including Alawites, Druze, and Kurds. Many of the rebel factions that supported Sharaa’s rise remain skeptical of his new political direction. Analysts warn that failure to deliver economic improvement or maintain national unity could threaten Syria’s fragile stability.

For now, the White House meeting represents a significant turning point in U.S.-Syria relations. The exchange of commemorative gifts and the tone of mutual respect marked a symbolic closure to decades of hostility. As one senior Syrian official described it, the summit “opened a new chapter in Syrian-American relations based on common interests and mutual respect.”

The visit capped a dramatic transformation in Syria’s leadership and global posture. Nearly a year after Bashar Al Assad’s fall, Washington’s outreach to Damascus highlights a striking example of realpolitik, welcoming a former jihadist commander into the Oval Office to forge a new partnership. While many hurdles remain, both nations appear intent on turning a page in one of the Middle East’s most turbulent relationships.