Monitoring Desk
In a dramatic shift in U.S. foreign policy, former President Donald Trump on Wednesday urged Syria’s interim leader Ahmed al-Sharaa to normalise relations with Israel, following a surprise announcement to lift longstanding U.S. sanctions on Damascus.
The meeting took place in Riyadh, in the presence of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, marking the first public engagement between a U.S. president and a Syrian leader since the civil war began. Photos released by Saudi state media showed Trump and Sharaa shaking hands, signalling a potential thaw in a historically hostile relationship.
According to the White House, Trump encouraged Sharaa to join the Abraham Accords—U.S.-brokered agreements that led the UAE, Bahrain, and Morocco to establish formal ties with Israel in 2020. “I told him, ‘I hope you’re going to join when it’s straightened out.’ He said, ‘Yes.’ But they have a lot of work to do,” Trump said, referring to the conversation.
Describing Sharaa as “a young, attractive guy with a very strong past,” Trump praised his leadership potential, adding, “He’s got a real shot at holding it together.” Sharaa leads a transitional government that once emerged from a group with past affiliations to Al Qaeda—raising eyebrows among Washington observers.
Trump’s remarks have intensified anxiety in Israel, where the government has strongly opposed any easing of sanctions on Syria. Israeli officials argue that such moves could legitimize a regime they see as hostile and embolden regional threats. Trump, however, defended his outreach, saying, “My relationships in the Middle East are very good for Israel.”
Notably, Trump’s four-day regional tour does not include a stop in Jerusalem, further fuelling concerns in Israel about shifting U.S. priorities under his renewed influence in global diplomacy.
Following his visit to Saudi Arabia, Trump travelled to Qatar, where he oversaw a major deal for the Gulf state to purchase Boeing aircraft. In a controversial development, Qatar has also offered to donate a Boeing jet to be used as the official U.S. presidential aircraft—a gesture that has triggered scrutiny in Washington over its legal, ethical, and security implications, given its extraordinary value.
During a high-profile event at Lusail Palace, Trump was photographed holding a soccer ball alongside Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and FIFA President Gianni Infantino, symbolizing Qatar’s growing stature on the global stage.
The former president’s trip highlights the complex overlap of diplomacy, defence contracts, and personal business interests, as Trump’s real estate company remains active in multiple Gulf states. His unexpected embrace of Syria and renewed focus on reshaping Middle East alliances have prompted both intrigue and unease in capitals around the world.
