First US-Syria Meet in 25 Years: Trump shakes hands with Syria’s President Ahmed al-Sharaa, calls him ‘attractive, tough fighter’

In a dramatic shift in Middle East diplomacy, US President Donald Trump on Wednesday met Syria’s interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa in Riyadh, alongside Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, which marked the first meeting between the two nations’ leaders in 25 years.

The high-stakes meeting comes just months after al-Sharaa—once known globally by his jihadi alias Abu Mohammed al-Golani—assumed power in Syria following the fall of Bashar al-Assad in December 2024. Al-Sharaa, a former al-Qaeda commander turned rebel leader, now represents a country trying to reset its global standing after more than a decade of conflict.

Trump, currently on a four-day tour of the Gulf, urged al-Sharaa to sign onto the Abraham Accords with Israel, crack down on terrorism, and help secure Syria’s future post-conflict. “He’s a real leader. Tough guy. Fighter. He’s got a real shot at holding it together,” Trump told reporters after the meeting, describing al-Sharaa as “young, attractive,” and “pretty amazing.”

From al-Qaeda to presidency

Al-Sharaa, formerly known by his jihadi alias Abu Mohammed al-Golani, once led the al-Qaeda-affiliated Nusra Front and had a $10 million US bounty on his head, as news agency AP reported. His past includes direct involvement in the Iraq insurgency and leading the Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) during Syria’s civil war.

Despite this controversial background, al-Sharaa has in recent years distanced himself from al-Qaeda, rebranded HTS, and transitioned into politics. In December, he spearheaded the overthrow of Bashar al-Assad’s regime and has since pledged to build an inclusive Syria, free of Iranian and Hezbollah influence.

What are key issues on the table?

The Riyadh meeting focused on two primary geopolitical flashpoints: the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war and the Israel-Hamas conflict. Trump advocated for Syria to normalise ties with Israel under the Abraham Accords and called on al-Sharaa to:

– Deport Palestinian terrorists from Syrian territory
– Take full responsibility for ISIS detention centres in northeast Syria
– Collaborate with the US to prevent ISIS resurgence
– Expel all foreign terrorist groups
– Invite American oil and gas companies for investment

Al-Sharaa, for his part, reaffirmed Syria’s commitment to the 1974 Israel-Syria disengagement agreement and expressed hope that Syria could become a “critical link” between East and West.

Sanctions lifted, regional backing secured

On Tuesday, just before the summit, Trump announced the lifting of long-standing US sanctions on Syria — a dramatic policy shift aimed at supporting al-Sharaa’s transitional government. The move follows the backing of key regional players including Turkey and Saudi Arabia.

“After discussing with the Crown Prince and Erdogan, I’ve decided to give Syria a chance at greatness,” Trump declared during a keynote speech in Riyadh.

Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Ministry posted photos of the trilateral meeting on X (formerly Twitter), noting, “A meeting brings together HRH the Crown Prince, the US President, and the Syrian President in Riyadh.”

Despite international attention and early endorsements, al-Sharaa’s path forward remains complex. Syria’s economy is in tatters, 90 per cent of its population lives in poverty, and deep sectarian divides persist after 14 years of war.