{"id":32570,"date":"2025-11-12T01:20:16","date_gmt":"2025-11-11T23:20:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ir-ia.com\/news\/?p=32570"},"modified":"2025-11-13T08:51:36","modified_gmt":"2025-11-13T06:51:36","slug":"syrian-president-sharaa-holds-talks-with-trump-at-white-house-joins-us-led-alliance-against-isis","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ir-ia.com\/news\/syrian-president-sharaa-holds-talks-with-trump-at-white-house-joins-us-led-alliance-against-isis\/","title":{"rendered":"Syrian President Sharaa holds talks with Trump at White House, joins US-led alliance against ISIS"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

6 minute read<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Syria is joining the global coalition against the Islamic State group. \u201cSyria announced that it is joining the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS,\u201d becoming the 90th member of the alliance and \u201cpartnering with the United States to eliminate ISIS remnants and halt foreign fighter flows,\u201d according to a senior U.S. official. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

United States is also allowing Syria \u201cto resume operations at its Embassy in Washington to further counterterrorism, security, and economic coordination,\u201d the U.S. administration official added. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to Syria\u2019s Foreign Minister Asaad Al Shaibani, the meeting covered \u201cthe subject of Syria in all its aspects,\u201d including the country\u2019s unity, reconstruction, and the lifting of sanctions imposed during the 13-year civil war. \u201cThe Syrian people always deserve a better future,\u201d Al Shaibani said in a statement posted on X.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Syrian Foreign Ministry later called the visit \u201chistoric and unprecedented,\u201d adding that the meeting, which lasted more than an hour, took place in a \u201cfriendly and constructive atmosphere.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"U.S.<\/a>
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Hassan al-Shaibani during the Turkiye-US-Syria trilateral meeting in Washington, U.S., on November 10, 2025. (Image Credit: X\/@anadoluagency)<\/sup><\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The statement said President Trump \u201cexpressed his admiration for Syria\u2019s new leadership and the Syrian people, praising Syria\u2019s efforts in restoring stability and liberation throughout the country.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Trump reaffirmed the United States\u2019 \u201creadiness to provide the necessary support\u201d to assist Syria\u2019s reconstruction and economic recovery.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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 \u201cestablish clear mechanisms\u201d for implementing the agreements reached by Presidents Trump and Sharaa.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Diplomatic sources said Turkey\u2019s participation was aimed at ensuring coordination on border security, refugee repatriation, and the future status of northern Syria. The meeting underscored the administration\u2019s goal of transforming high-level political commitments into concrete, operational steps on the ground.<\/p>\n\n\n\n


Syria\u2019s<\/strong> Reconstruction and Sanctions Relief<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The act was introduced to penalize the Assad government for human rights abuses during the civil war. Since Sharaa\u2019s rise to power after toppling Bashar Al Assad late last year, Washington has gradually eased some measures, but full removal still requires congressional approval.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"U.S.<\/a>
U.S. President Donald Trump speaks with Syria’s President Ahmad al-Sharaa, at the White House in Washington, on November 10, 2025.(Image Credit: Syrian Presidency Press Office)<\/sup><\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Trump announced an extension of the Treasury Department\u2019s suspension of enforcement of certain Caesar Act sanctions for another 180 days, signaling further steps toward normalization. \u201cWe\u2019ll do everything we can to make Syria successful,\u201d Trump said after the meeting, describing Sharaa as a \u201cstrong leader\u201d and adding, \u201cWe\u2019ve all had rough pasts.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n


Security and Anti-Terrorism<\/strong> Cooperation<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The White House talks also focused on regional security. Both sides agreed to advance the \u201cMarch 10 Agreement,\u201d 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

U.S. officials praised Syria\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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 \u201cthe progress demonstrated by the Syrian leadership after the departure of Bashar Al Assad and more than 50 years of repression under the Assad regime.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"Syrian<\/a>
Security members carry belongings as they leave the damaged Syrian Defense Ministry building hit by Israeli airstrikes in Damascus, Syria, on July 16, 2025. (Image Credit: AP)<\/sup><\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

He noted that Sharaa\u2019s government had taken steps to meet American conditions, including cooperation in locating missing U.S. citizens and eliminating remaining chemical weapons. \u201cThese actions promote regional stability and support a Syrian-led political process,\u201d Pigott said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n


Israel and Regional Stability<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u2019s activities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Trump said he hoped Syria and Israel could eventually \u201cnormalize relations,\u201d emphasizing that a Syria independent from Tehran\u2019s orbit would represent \u201ca strategic win\u201d for the region.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Israeli officials have voiced reservations about a complete lifting of U.S. sanctions, warning it could weaken Washington\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n


Economic Outlook and Future Challenges<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sharaa\u2019s 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\u2019s long-isolated economy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u2019s rise remain skeptical of his new political direction. Analysts warn that failure to deliver economic improvement or maintain national unity could threaten Syria\u2019s fragile stability.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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 \u201copened a new chapter in Syrian-American relations based on common interests and mutual respect.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"U.S.<\/a>
U.S. President Donald Trump meeting with Syria’s President Ahmad al-Sharaa, at the White House in Washington, on November 10, 2025.(Image Credit: Syrian Presidency Press Office)<\/sup><\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

The visit capped a dramatic transformation in Syria\u2019s leadership and global posture. Nearly a year after Bashar Al Assad\u2019s fall, Washington\u2019s 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\u2019s most turbulent relationships.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":32585,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[44,1,125],"tags":[134,30,14,26,356,71,107,113,13,11,702,82,7],"class_list":["post-32570","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-middle-east","category-news","category-united-states","tag-economy","tag-iran","tag-isis","tag-israel","tag-middle-east","tag-politics","tag-sanctions","tag-security","tag-syria","tag-terrorism","tag-trump","tag-turkey","tag-u-s"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.ir-ia.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/US-Syria-leaders-meeting.jpg?fit=690%2C370&ssl=1","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p7jJWb-8tk","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ir-ia.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/32570","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ir-ia.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ir-ia.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ir-ia.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ir-ia.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=32570"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/www.ir-ia.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/32570\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":32618,"href":"https:\/\/www.ir-ia.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/32570\/revisions\/32618"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ir-ia.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/32585"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ir-ia.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=32570"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ir-ia.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=32570"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ir-ia.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=32570"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}