U.S. President Donald Trump hosted Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa on the White Home on Monday, marking the primary time {that a} Syrian head of state has visited Washington in nearly 80 years. The assembly—notable additionally for Sharaa’s historical past because the chief of al Qaeda’s Syria affiliate—represents a serious thawing of relations with the onetime pariah state.
Sharaa is hoping to make use of that “powerful man” picture to strike a take care of america to permanently lift U.S. sanctions on Syria. In 2019, Trump imposed sanctions underneath the Caesar Act to punish Damascus for alleged widespread human rights abuses underneath Assad’s regime. However in June, Trump waived these penalties through an executive order, citing the necessity to “give Syrians an opportunity at greatness.”
U.S. President Donald Trump hosted Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa on the White Home on Monday, marking the primary time {that a} Syrian head of state has visited Washington in nearly 80 years. The assembly—notable additionally for Sharaa’s historical past because the chief of al Qaeda’s Syria affiliate—represents a serious thawing of relations with the onetime pariah state.
Sharaa is hoping to make use of that “powerful man” picture to strike a take care of america to permanently lift U.S. sanctions on Syria. In 2019, Trump imposed sanctions underneath the Caesar Act to punish Damascus for alleged widespread human rights abuses underneath Assad’s regime. However in June, Trump waived these penalties through an executive order, citing the necessity to “give Syrians an opportunity at greatness.”
Trump appeared to attempt to appease Sharaa’s calls for on Monday by having the Treasury Division announce that it’s halting most sanctions on Syria, apart from these involving transactions with Russia and Iran. However Sharaa seeks a everlasting resolution, which requires an act of Congress, and U.S. lawmakers seem hesitant to grant such a request except Damascus adheres to several conditions, corresponding to guaranteeing non secular pluralism within the nation and enhancing ties with Israel.
However Sharaa is just not the one one looking for to achieve from a brand new U.S.-Syria partnership. Trump is hoping to convince Damascus to affix Washington’s 89-country coalition devoted to combating the Islamic State—one thing that Syria’s new army and its Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces already do. He additionally goals to broaden the Abraham Accords by having Syria formalize ties with Israel, set up a army presence at Mezzeh airbase in Damascus, and construct a Trump Tower within the capital.
Learn extra in at present’s World Temporary: Sharaa’s White House Visit Marks a Reshaping of the Regional Order.
This publish is a part of FP’s ongoing protection of the Trump administration. Observe alongside here.
