Trump Plans Meeting with Syrian Interim President in Saudi Arabia

U.S. President Donald Trump is scheduled to meet with Syrian interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa in Saudi Arabia, marking a significant shift in U.S. diplomacy toward Syria. Al-Sharaa, formerly known as Abu Mohammad al-Julani, is a former insurgent leader with ties to al Qaeda and ISIS, who played a central role in toppling Bashar Assad's regime. The Biden administration recently canceled a $10 million bounty on al-Sharaa, and Trump has indicated a possible lifting of U.S. sanctions on Syria, encouraged by Turkish President Erdogan, aiming to offer Syria a "fresh start." The meeting reflects broader U.S. and allied Arab efforts to realign Syria away from the Iran-led Axis of Resistance towards cooperation with the U.S.-Israeli alliance, which includes potential economic investments and regional normalization frameworks. Al-Sharaa has taken steps to comply with these new priorities, including cracking down on Palestinian resistance groups in Syria. This engagement, supported by Gulf leaders, could reshape regional power dynamics and U.S.-Syria relations amid ongoing geopolitical complexities.