Trump Lifts Syria Sanctions On First Day Of High-Stakes Middle East Visit
President Trump kicked off his first major foreign trip of his second term in Saudi Arabia — breaking tradition by visiting Riyadh before any European or North American ally. The first foreign trip of his first term was also to the Gulf kingdom. Since World War II, U.S. presidents have traditionally prioritized visiting more traditional allies in the first foreign trips of their terms.
In a dramatic policy shift, he announced that the U.S. will lift sanctions on Syria, which has been designated a state sponsor of terrorism since 1979. Further sanctions were imposed on the country in 2004 and 2011 when Syria was ruled by dictator Bashar al-Assad. Assad’s regime was overthrown in December by the Islamist fundamentalist group, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (or HTS), after 14 years of civil war and sustained Israeli military pressure.
WHY NOW?
Trump said that he wants to give the new government a chance to succeed. “I say, good luck, Syria. Show us something special,” he said Tuesday. Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Turkey reportedly argued that economic recovery in Syria could reduce regional instability. The president is expected to meet tomorrow with Syria’s new leader, President Ahmed al-Sharaa — the first meeting of the two nations’ leaders in 25 years. Even more remarkable - al-Sharaa remains on the U.S. terrorist list due to his past ties with al-Qaeda and ISIS.
He’s a former al-Qaeda member and the current head of HTS, which has been designated a terrorist organization by the U.S. since 2018.
Al-Sharaa, who is also known as al-Jolani, was previously imprisoned in Iraq after the 2003 U.S. invasion and met ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi while in custody.
More recently, he has tried to position himself as a moderate figure, including changing his attire and speaking with the New York Times.
His past continues to raise deep concerns among U.S. allies, especially Israel, which has publicly opposed legitimizing the new Syrian government.
SPEAKING OF ISRAEL
Trump reiterated his hope Tuesday that Saudi Arabia will join the Abraham Accords, the normalization deals between Israel and Arab states launched during his first term.
“It’s my fervent hope, wish and even my dream that Saudi Arabia… will soon be joining the Abraham Accords… but you’ll do it in your own time,” he said.
Saudi officials have said recognition of Israel is tied to Palestinian statehood. Saudi citizens staunchly oppose joining the Accords, according to polling.
The Biden administration tried to incentivize the kingdom to recognize Israel by offering U.S. support for Saudi nuclear development in exchange for Saudi normalizing relations with Israel, but Trump dropped that condition and promised to help build nuclear power plants there even without normalization with Israel.
Trump signed several new agreements with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS) for $600 billion. He’s in the region to negotiate deals worth more than $1 trillion.
