In a dramatic diplomatic turnaround, Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa is set to meet President Donald Trump at the White House on Monday — just days after Washington officially struck his name from its terrorism blacklist. The meeting marks a watershed moment, as Sharaa becomes the first Syrian head of state to visit the White House since the nation gained independence in 1946.
Sharaa’s rise to power followed the ouster of longtime ruler Bashar al-Assad late last year by rebel factions. His movement, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), had been linked to Al-Qaeda and was only delisted by the U.S. government as a terrorist organization in July. The group’s rapid political rehabilitation has stunned analysts who only recently viewed it as one of the region’s most radical militant forces.
Since assuming office, Sharaa has embarked on an aggressive campaign to recast Syria’s global image, striving to distance his government from its insurgent past and to present a message of moderation and reconstruction. “These actions are being taken in recognition of the progress demonstrated by the Syrian leadership after the departure of Bashar al-Assad and more than 50 years of repression under the Assad regime,” said State Department spokesman Tommy Pigott.
Michael Hanna, U.S. program director at the International Crisis Group, called the visit “a hugely symbolic moment for the country’s new leader, who thus marks another step in his astonishing transformation from militant leader to global statesman.” The White House meeting, Hanna said, signals a fundamental shift in Washington’s engagement with Syria after more than a decade of war and international isolation.
The State Department’s decision to remove Sharaa from the terrorism list was expected, coming after months of cooperation between Damascus and Washington. U.S. officials cited Syria’s efforts to locate missing Americans and dismantle chemical weapons stockpiles as key factors. “These actions,” Pigott emphasized, “are being taken in recognition of the progress demonstrated by the Syrian leadership.”
Ahead of his White House visit, Sharaa spent the weekend in meetings with key financial and diplomatic figures, including IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva, to discuss reconstruction aid for Syria’s devastated economy. He also convened with Syrian-American organizations and advocacy groups in Washington, signaling his interest in building a new partnership with the Syrian diaspora.
A U.S. diplomatic source told AFP that the administration is preparing to open a joint military coordination base near Damascus “to coordinate humanitarian aid and observe developments between Syria and Israel.” The move would represent a major milestone in the normalization of U.S.-Syrian ties and an unprecedented security collaboration between the two nations.
Tom Barrack, Washington’s envoy to Syria, revealed earlier this month that Sharaa could sign an agreement to join the U.S.-led international coalition against the Islamic State. That alliance, which Trump has continued to strengthen, has been key in dismantling IS’s remaining networks across the Middle East.
Inside Syria, the new government has been eager to demonstrate its commitment to eradicating extremism. On Saturday, the Syrian interior ministry announced that it had conducted 61 operations, resulting in 71 arrests, in what it called a “proactive campaign to neutralize the threat” of IS sleeper cells. According to the official SANA news agency, the raids spanned Aleppo, Idlib, Hama, Homs, Deir ez-Zor, Raqqa, and Damascus.
Sharaa’s visit to Washington follows his historic appearance before the United Nations General Assembly in September — the first time in decades a Syrian leader has addressed the forum. His speech was met with cautious optimism among Western diplomats, many of whom noted his rhetoric of reconciliation and reform.
Just last week, the United States spearheaded a successful vote at the UN Security Council to lift remaining sanctions against Sharaa, paving the way for international financial institutions to re-engage with Damascus. The move was seen as part of a broader U.S. strategy to stabilize post-war Syria and limit Iran’s regional influence.
Rebuilding the nation, however, will be an immense task. Syria faces colossal economic and infrastructural damage after 13 years of civil war. The World Bank, in an October assessment, placed the “conservative best estimate” of reconstruction costs at $216 billion — a figure that underscores the staggering scale of the recovery ahead.
For Sharaa, who met Trump once before during the president’s regional tour in Saudi Arabia in May, the upcoming White House visit is a defining test of his legitimacy. It will determine whether the world now sees him as a credible reformer — or merely a militant-turned-politician navigating a fragile new era for Syria.
{Matzav.com}
