WASHINGTON: In a development marking one of the most significant U.S. foreign policy turnarounds in the Middle East, President Donald Trump vowed to “do everything possible to make Syria successful” following landmark talks in Washington with Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa, a former al-Qaeda commander turned head of state.
The meeting signals a potential recalibration of U.S. strategy in the region. For Sharaa, it capped a year of diplomatic rehabilitation after his forces ousted Bashar al-Assad’s regime last December. His government has since pivoted away from Iran and Russia toward pragmatic engagement with the West, Turkey, and Gulf partners.
Trump’s meeting with Sharaa, the first visit by a Syrian leader to Washington in history came as the U.S. Treasury extended a 180-day suspension of Caesar Act enforcement, maintaining sanctions relief but stopping short of full removal. Analysts say the move reflects Washington’s cautious optimism: balancing the opportunity to stabilize Syria’s fragile transition with concerns over Sharaa’s militant past.
“Trump’s statement that ‘we’ll do everything we can to make Syria successful’ signals the administration’s willingness to re-engage with a once-isolated nation,” said a former U.S. State Department official. “However, true normalization will depend on Congressional action and measurable reform inside Syria.”
The White House confirmed that discussions also touched on regional security, counterterrorism, and the potential for a U.S.-brokered security framework between Syria and Israel a move that could redefine post-war alignments in the Middle East. Sources indicated preliminary plans for a limited U.S. military presence at a Damascus airbase to secure counterterrorism operations and humanitarian access.
In a symbolic gesture of realignment, Syria on Monday signed a political cooperation declaration with the U.S.-led Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS, signaling its intent to distance itself from radical elements and rejoin international efforts against extremism.
Though Trump’s rhetoric appeared conciliatory, analysts caution that this détente remains fragile. With U.S. domestic opposition wary of rehabilitating a former militant leader and Syria still navigating internal fractures, the road to normalization will be long and complex.
– Steve Holland
