US President Donald Trump is set to meet Syria’s new president, Ahmad al-Sharaa, in what is being described as a historic diplomatic engagement. The meeting will take place during Trump’s ongoing Middle East tour before he travels to Qatar.
Al-Sharaa, a former senior commander of the militant group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), assumed power after the fall of Bashar al-Assad in December. The group, HTS, is designated as a terrorist organization by the United States and the United Nations.
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The Trump administration has lifted decades-long US sanctions on Syria, with the president declaring Syria now deserves “a chance at greatness.” The controversial meeting was reportedly encouraged by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.
The trip also includes a $142 billion arms deal and a $20 billion AI investment agreement with Saudi Arabia. Trump has faced criticism back home, particularly over reports suggesting he may accept a $400 million Boeing 747-8 from Qatar as a new Air Force One — a move opponents say poses ethical and legal issues.
