Payam Javan: In a historic meeting in Riyadh on Wednesday, President Donald Trump met with Syrian leader Ahmed al-Sharaa, marking a significant shift in U.S.-Syria relations. The 33-minute discussion, held before Trump’s address to the Gulf Cooperation Council, followed his May 13 announcement to lift U.S. sanctions on Syria, a decision made after consultations with Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Trump urged al-Sharaa to join the Abraham Accords, expel foreign terrorists, and manage ISIS detention centers, signaling a push for Syria’s integration into regional diplomacy under its transitional government.

The meeting reflects Trump’s broader strategy to normalize relations with Syria’s new leadership, led by Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), despite its designation as a terrorist organization by the U.S. Trump expressed optimism about Syria’s potential for “greatness,” emphasizing sanctions relief as a fresh start. The announcement, made during the Saudi-U.S. Investment Forum, received a standing ovation. Following the talks, Trump will continue his Middle East tour in Doha, while Secretary of State Marco Rubio is set to meet Syria’s foreign minister in Turkey to further diplomatic efforts.