Trump Meets With Former Jihadist Turned Syrian President—Here Are 3 Big Takeaways
Trump becomes first U.S. president in 25 years to meet with Syria’s leader, lifting sanctions and reshaping regional policy.
In Riyadh on Wednesday, President Donald Trump became the first U.S. president in 25 years to meet with a Syrian head of state, sitting down with President Ahmed al-Sharaa, a former jihadist who led the campaign that toppled Bashar al-Assad last year. (CNN)
U.S. Lifts Sanctions in Landmark Summit
The face-to-face meeting followed a sweeping announcement: the U.S. will lift all economic sanctions on Syria and begin normalizing diplomatic ties. “We are currently exploring normalizing relations with Syria’s new government, as you know, beginning with my meeting with President Ahmed al-Sharaa,” Trump said at a summit with Arab leaders. “We will be dropping all of the sanctions on Syria, which I think really is going to be a good thing.” (WSJ)
A $600 Billion Deal and a “Gulf Clap”
Trump’s decision comes on the heels of a $600 billion investment deal with Saudi Arabia and $142 billion in arms sales to the kingdom. (Reuters)
Syria’s economy has been crippled by U.S. sanctions since they were imposed in 1979. The sanctions rollback was met with fireworks in Syria and applause across the Gulf, where governments have pushed for reintegration of Damascus into regional politics. (CNN)
From Bounty Target to Political Partner
Photos showed Trump and Sharaa smiling with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. It’s a dramatic pivot, given Sharaa’s past leadership of Syria’s al-Qaeda affiliate. Until recently, the U.S. had a $10 million bounty on his head. (CNN)
Although Sharaa was once aligned with extremist groups, he has since renounced radicalism and pledged to lead an inclusive government—and according to Syria’s foreign ministry, the U.S. president has committed to “standing by Syria at this critical juncture.” (CNN)
What This Means for Israel and the New Middle East
🧠 From Tel Aviv to Tehran, from Riyadh to Washington—Trump’s Syria gambit is reshaping alliances, markets, and assumptions.
👉 In today’s Pro Brief, we dive deeper into the geopolitical shockwaves from the Trump-Sharaa summit.
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