For the first time, a Syrian head of state, interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa, was welcomed to the White House. The visit was previously described as “historic”. Just a year ago, al-Sharaa was considered a wanted terrorist in the USA – and Syria was in the final weeks of a bloody civil war.
The US government now said: President Donald Trump wants to keep his promise and give Syria “a chance for greatness.” The government therefore extended the suspension of certain sanctions by six months. However, they were not completely lifted, as a document from the Ministry of Finance shows. The easing was intended to promote Syria’s reconstruction and stability.
An expected announcement by al-Sharaa that his country would take part in the US-led coalition to fight the terrorist militia Islamic State (IS) was not initially officially confirmed. Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani, who was also received at the White House, described the meeting as constructive. It had been prepared for months.
The Foreign Ministry also said that both sides had agreed to implement a roadmap for cooperation. The aim is to restore diplomatic relations at ambassadorial level, reopen common institutions and strengthen political and economic cooperation.
From jihadist to president
Parts of Al-Sharaa’s career seem like something out of the script of a dramatic television series: he once fought as a jihadist against US forces in Iraq and was held captive by them for years. Today he will be received with a warm handshake by the US President himself at the White House. He has been at the helm of Syria as interim president since the beginning of the year. As head of the Islamist group Haiat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), he ended the decades-long rule of the Assad family in December 2024 with the help of a rebel alliance.
Since taking office, he has jetted around the world to reconnect Syria to the international community. Under the deposed ruler Bashar al-Assad, the country was recently internationally isolated because of the brutal civil war.
Removed from terrorist list
In the influential Gulf states, al-Sharaa promoted international investments in Syria. He was the first Syrian president in almost 60 years to give a speech at the UN general debate. Russian President Vladimir Putin, who had helped Assad militarily for years in the fight against the current rulers, even received him in Moscow. And now the visit to the White House. Trump and al-Sharaa had previously met twice, once in Saudi Arabia in May and once on the sidelines of the UN general debate.
Shortly before al-Sharaa’s visit to the White House, Washington removed the interim president from a list on which the government lists terrorists subject to sanctions. The same applies to Syria’s Interior Minister Anas Hasan Chattab. A US dollar bounty of ten million US dollars on al-Sharaa was lifted shortly after Assad’s fall.
Another milestone in Washington
Al-Sharaa’s trip to Washington is seen as another milestone in Syria’s post-Assad history. Observers speak of a turning point for relations between Syria and the USA. The US is also keen to curb Iran’s influence in Syria. The Islamic Republic and its militias have been one of Assad’s most important allies.
Internationally, the actions and direction of the transitional government in Syria are being closely monitored. Experts see a will towards democratic change, but are also critical of the new leadership’s first months in office. The focus is particularly on protecting minorities in deeply divided Syria.
Since the fall of Assad, there have been repeated outbreaks of violence, some of which have killed hundreds of people. Security forces from the interim government were also partly involved.
What do Syrians hope to gain from their visit to Washington?
Many Syrians remain skeptical of their new head of state. Many people are still not sure where the country is heading, a resident of the capital Damascus told the German Press Agency. Another woman said: “We remain optimistic that Syria continues to move in the right direction.”
Some have hope that the trip to Trump will bring improvements for the badly damaged and economically weak Syria. “This trip al-Sharaas can bring us more than previous trips to other countries,” said another resident in Damascus. There is great hope that further easing of sanctions will pave the way for new investments.
Many parts of Syria are still devastated after the almost 14-year civil war with international involvement. The economy is in ruins. According to the UN, an estimated seven million internally displaced people still live in Syria. Around 16 million people out of the approximately 23 million inhabitants of Syria are still dependent on humanitarian aid.
