Trump Meets Syria’s Interim President, Ends US Sanctions, Shifts Middle East Diplomacy

In a highly controversial and unprecedented diplomatic move, former US President Donald Trump met with Syrian interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa, formerly known as Abu Mohammad al-Jawlani, a one-time senior Al Qaeda and ISIS leader who founded the al-Nusra Front. This meeting, arranged by Saudi Arabia and Turkey, marked a dramatic shift in Middle East diplomacy, with Trump praising al-Sharaa's leadership and announcing the full removal of US sanctions on Syria, which had been in place since 1979. Al-Sharaa's transformation from a designated global terrorist to Syria's new interim president followed his group's overthrow of Bashar al-Assad's regime, leading to hopes of a more stable and inclusive future for Syria. Trump's decision to lift sanctions and recognize al-Sharaa's government signals a reorientation of US policy toward Syria, encouraging the country to engage with regional peace initiatives like the Abraham Accords. While Trump's remarks highlighted al-Sharaa's 'strong past' and described him as a 'real leader,' the move has unsettled traditional power dynamics and raised questions about the US stance on terrorism and regional stability. The meeting and policy reversal illustrate the complex and evolving geopolitics of the Middle East, with Syria potentially moving away from isolation and toward new alliances with America’s key partners.