In a landmark diplomatic development, U.S. President Donald Trump met with Syrian interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa in Riyadh on May 14, 2025, marking a historic turning point in American foreign policy in the Middle East. The meeting, facilitated by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and attended virtually by Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan, focused on stabilizing Syria and rebuilding diplomatic ties after more than a decade of conflict.
During the high-profile summit, President Trump announced that the United States will lift all sanctions imposed on Syria, signaling a dramatic shift in its approach to the war-torn country. Trump emphasized the importance of turning the page on past violence, declaring that Syria had “endured enough disasters, wars, and killing” and must now pursue national healing and reconstruction.
The Syrian leadership, now under President Ahmed al-Sharaa following the ousting of Bashar al-Assad in December 2024, has taken significant steps to distance itself from extremist affiliations. Al-Sharaa, who once led the Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, publicly renounced ties to al-Qaeda in 2016 and has since led efforts to unify Syria under a transitional government that seeks international legitimacy and support.
The Riyadh visit was also marked by major economic announcements. Saudi Arabia committed to $600 billion in investments with the United States across various sectors, including a $142 billion arms deal. Additional agreements were signed in energy, infrastructure, and technology, with American tech giants like Nvidia and AMD unveiling new artificial intelligence partnerships with Saudi-backed firms. These initiatives are aimed at transforming Saudi Arabia into a global AI hub in the coming decade.
Trump's decision to normalize ties with Syria drew mixed reactions. Israel expressed strong reservations, citing President al-Sharaa’s extremist background. However, the United Nations and several European nations welcomed the move, seeing it as a potential opening for broader Middle Eastern stabilization and humanitarian recovery, provided Syria follows through on promised political reforms and respects human rights.
Following the Saudi leg of his trip, Trump is expected to visit Qatar for high-level talks with Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani. Qatar is anticipated to announce major investments in the United States, including aircraft purchases. Additionally, speculation is growing around a possible upcoming summit in Turkey involving Russian and Ukrainian leaders, signaling the Trump administration's broader effort to play a mediating role in global conflicts.
This visit underscores a recalibration of U.S. engagement in the Middle East, with a strong emphasis on economic diplomacy, regional stabilization, and forging new alliances to address both legacy issues and emerging geopolitical realities.