Trump Meets Syrian President in Saudi Before Flying to Qatar

US President Donald Trump met with Syria’s President Ahmed al-Sharaa in Saudi Arabia on Wednesday. This meeting came shortly after Trump announced the US would lift all sanctions on the Syrian government—a move that surprised many and boosted al-Sharaa’s position.

Photos from Saudi state TV showed Trump and al-Sharaa shaking hands with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman present. Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan joined the meeting virtually, alongside Trump and the Crown Prince.

During the meeting, Trump encouraged al-Sharaa to follow the path of the UAE, Bahrain, and Morocco by normalizing relations with Israel under the Abraham Accords, the White House press secretary shared on X.

Lifting Sanctions on Syria Raises Eyebrows

Despite some doubts within parts of his administration, Trump confirmed the decision to lift Syria sanctions during a speech in Riyadh. The move supports al-Sharaa’s efforts to stabilize Syria’s government after overthrowing former President Bashar al-Assad in December.

Gulf Visit Packed With Big Deals and Ceremonies

Trump’s first day in the Gulf included lavish events and major business agreements. Saudi Arabia pledged $600 billion in US investments, along with $142 billion in arms sales.

Trump Signs $243.5 Billion Deal in Qatar

Now in Doha, Qatar, Trump signed a massive $243.5 billion agreement covering defense and trade. Qatar is a key US ally, and this deal marks a major milestone in US-Gulf relations during Trump’s four-day tour.

Next Stops: UAE and Possible Turkey Meeting

After Qatar, Trump will head to Abu Dhabi for talks with UAE leaders on Thursday. He is scheduled to return to Washington on Friday but mentioned he might visit Turkey for a potential meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

This article was previously published on saudimoments. To see the original article, click here