President Trump Urges Syrian Leader To Join Abraham Accords in Riyadh
US President Donald Trump met with Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa in Riyadh on Wednesday and urged him to join the Abraham Accords and normalize relations with Israel. The meeting—held alongside Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and joined virtually by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan—marked the first face-to-face encounter between American and Syrian leaders in more than 20 years.
The discussion came one day after President Trump announced that the US would lift all sanctions on Syria. The decision, reportedly encouraged by both bin Salman and Erdoğan, was made despite concerns raised by Israel and others over al-Sharaa’s past associations with jihadist groups. President Trump told al-Sharaa he had “a tremendous opportunity to do something historic in his country” and encouraged him to expel Palestinian terrorist factions, take responsibility for Islamic State detention centers, and cooperate with US efforts to prevent a resurgence of the group.
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In a statement released after the meeting, the White House said al-Sharaa affirmed Syria’s commitment to the 1974 disengagement agreement with Israel, acknowledged the potential benefits of an Iranian withdrawal from Syria, and expressed interest in joint efforts with the US to combat terrorism and eliminate chemical weapons stockpiles.
The US president also hinted at a possible normalization of ties with Damascus, saying the lifting of sanctions offers Syria “a fresh start.” Speaking to reporters, President Trump confirmed that Secretary of State Marco Rubio would meet with Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani in the coming week.
The announcement of sanctions relief sparked celebrations in cities across Syria, with thousands waving Syrian and Saudi flags. Although Israeli officials had advised caution, they have not publicly opposed the decision. Observers say the move could push Syria closer to the Western sphere and weaken Iranian influence in the region.
