RIYADH — In a landmark diplomatic development, U.S. President Donald Trump has announced that Washington is considering the restoration of formal ties with Syria. This follows his meeting with Syria’s interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa — the first high-level dialogue between the two nations in over 20 years.
President Trump revealed the move on Wednesday during a summit with Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) leaders in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. He emphasized that the United States is prepared to lift all existing sanctions on Syria, describing the gesture as a “fresh start” for the conflict-torn country.
“With the support of the respected leaders present, we are actively exploring the normalization of relations with Syria’s new government,” Trump stated during the summit.
He further disclosed that he had consulted with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan regarding this shift in U.S. foreign policy.
In addition to diplomatic normalization, Trump urged President al-Sharaa to sign the Abraham Accords with Israel, a series of agreements promoting peace between Israel and Arab states. He also called on the Syrian leader to deport Palestinians identified by the U.S. as “terrorists,” as part of Washington’s broader counterterrorism strategy.
This unprecedented meeting marks a potential turning point in Middle East diplomacy and could reshape U.S. relations with the region if the proposals move forward.
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