Donald Trump made history during his recent visit to the Middle East by meeting with Syria’s interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa in Saudi Arabia. This meeting has had a significant impact on the geopolitical landscape in central and west Asia. Al-Sharaa, formerly known as Abu Mohammad al-Jawlani, was a UN-proscribed and US-designated terrorist with ties to Al Qaeda and ISIS.
Al-Jawlani played key roles in these terror organizations, including coordinating with the leaders of Al Qaeda and ISIS. In 2011, he was instructed by Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi to establish a front for Al Qaeda in Iraq and Syria, leading to the formation of the Al-Nusrah Front, later rebranded as Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham. Following a successful offensive, Al-Jawlani declared victory in Syria, leading to the collapse of the Assad regime and his appointment as interim President.
During their meeting, President Trump announced the lifting of sanctions on Syria, which had been in place since 1979. These sanctions were imposed due to Syria’s support for terrorist groups like Hezbollah. The US decision to lift sanctions and recognize the new regime in Syria marks a significant shift in policy.
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman played a crucial role in facilitating the meeting between President Trump and President al-Sharaa. The US President encouraged the Syrian leader to sign onto the Abraham Accords with Israel and expel foreign terrorists from Syria. Turkey’s President Erdogan also joined the meeting via phone, showing support for the new Syrian regime.
While Israel has expressed concerns about legitimizing the new Syrian government, Gulf nations have backed the regime as a counterweight to Iran. The lifting of sanctions and the formal recognition of Ahmad al-Sharaa as Syria’s President signal a new era in the Middle East and West Asia. Syria’s Foreign Ministry has welcomed the announcement as a pivotal turning point for the country’s stability and reconstruction efforts.
