US may lift sanctions on Syria after Assad regime falls, Trump says

US President Donald Trump met with Syrian President-elect Ahmed al-Sharaa for the first time in 25 years. The event was part of Trump’s official tour of the Middle East and marked a significant step in transforming relations between Washington and Damascus.

Ahmed al-Sharaa previously led the Syrian branch of al-Qaeda and the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham group, which is designated a terrorist organization by the US and other countries. He was captured by US forces in Iraq in 2006, where he spent five years in prison before disappearing from public view.

Al-Sharaa returned to politics as Syria’s new leader after the change of power when the regime of Bashar al-Assad was overthrown in December 2024. Assad fled to Russia, and al-Sharaa headed a transitional government, promising democratic elections within five years. Despite his past, he has already presented a constitutional declaration that includes guarantees of freedom of speech, women’s rights, and the consolidation of the principles of Islamic law.

During a meeting with Trump, al-Sharaa issued a proposal for US access to Syrian natural resources in exchange for a gradual easing of sanctions. The White House put forward its conditions, including signing the Abraham Accords with Israel, participating in the fight against ISIS, and taking responsibility for holding militants in camps in the northeast of the country.

At an investment forum in Saudi Arabia, Trump said that he planned to lift sanctions against Syria. He stressed that the new government deserved a second chance because the country had gone through many difficulties:

“I want to give Syria a chance to recover. This is a country that has gone through many trials. Now it’s time to start all over again.”

Trump also noted that this decision was discussed with the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, Mohammed bin Salman, and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

According to Axios, this trip was Trump’s first foreign visit after his return to the presidency. Washington has already announced that further US action depends on the steps of the Syrian interim government, in particular, on cleansing the armed forces of foreign mercenaries.

Given al-Sharaa’s complex history, the change in US policy towards Syria has attracted both support and criticism. However, the Trump administration believes the new government could be a chance for regional stability.