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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.”

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.

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.

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.

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