TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - US President Donald Trump received Syrian President Ahmed Al-Sharaa at the White House on Monday. Al-Sharaa's visit marks the first visit by a Syrian leader to Washington in almost 80 years since the country gained independence, as reported by Anadolu.
The meeting of the two leaders resulted in the US suspending sanctions against Damascus for the next six months.
"It was an Honor to spend time with Ahmed Hussein al-Sharaa, the new President of Syria ... I look forward to meeting and speaking again," Trump said on his Truth Social platform, after the two had previously talked for nearly two hours.
This meeting marks the peak of a favorable year for Al-Sharaa, a 43-year-old former Al-Qaeda commander who took over Bashar Al Assad's government last December.
According to Al Jazeera, Trump praised the Syrian leader after their meeting.
"He comes from a very tough place, and he’s a tough guy. I like him. We’ll do everything we can to make Syria successful, because that’s part of the Middle East. We have peace now in the Middle East – the first time that anyone can remember that ever happening," he said, referring to this temporary Syrian leader.
However, Trump also touched on Al-Sharaa's controversial past. "We've all had rough pasts," he said.
His group, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, separated from al-Qaeda in 2016. However, less than a year ago, the US still offered a $10 million reward for information leading to Al-Sharaa's arrest.
Al-Sharaa then told Fox News that his relationship with Al Qaeda was in the past and was not discussed in his meeting with Trump. Syria is now seen as a geopolitical ally of Washington and not a threat, he added.
Al-Sharaa aims to unify his war-torn country and end decades of international isolation. He is the first Syrian leader to visit the White House since the country gained independence in 1946.
The Syrian presidency said that Al-Sharaa and Trump held talks "focusing on bilateral relations between Syria and the United States, ways to strengthen and develop them, and a number of regional and international issues of common interest."
Extension of Sanctions Relief
The new sanction relief announced by Washington on Monday suspends punitive actions under the Caesar Act, which prohibits US business relations with the Syrian government and military, for an additional 180 days.
"Removing US sanctions will support Syria’s efforts to rebuild its economy, provide prosperity for all its citizens, including its ethnic and religious minorities, and combat terrorism," the US Department of the Treasury said.
They added that "Trump is delivering on his commitment to give Syria ‘a chance at greatness’ and to let them rebuild and thrive by lifting US sanctions and ensuring accountability for harmful actors."
Although the Caesar Act sanctions have been suspended by Trump, permanent removal would require approval by Congress.
Modest Allies
Al-Sharaa received a muted welcome at the White House on Monday. He entered the White House through a side door and was not greeted by Trump outside. There was also no opportunity for a photo op or joint press conference between the two leaders.
As Al-Sharaa left the White House complex, he stepped out of his vehicle and his security in front of the complex and briefly greeted a cheering crowd of supporters, some of whom waved Syrian flags.
The meeting between the two leaders took place six months after they met in Saudi Arabia when Trump announced his plans to lift sanctions imposed on Syria. This was just days after the US stated that Al-Sharaa is not a "Specially Designated Global Terrorist."
Al-Sharaa, who was captured by US forces in Iraq during the US occupation of the country, then led al-Qaeda's branch in Syria.
Since overthrowing al-Assad, al-Sharaa has been rebranding himself, abandoning his alias, Abu Mohammed al-Julani, and promoting a tolerant and inclusive Syria.
This interim Syrian leader spoke at the UN General Assembly earlier this year. He said that his country is "reclaiming its rightful place among the nations of the world" and has been working to strengthen economic ties with the US and the European Union.
A New Chapter for Syria
According to UN News, after the overthrow of Bashar al-Assad at the end of last year, the international community began to ease pressure and provide sanctions relief to Syria. This was done in an effort to improve the humanitarian situation and revive the struggling economy.
The US, UK, and Europe lifted sanctions covering limited assets and trade policies worth about $15 billion in May.
Regional powers including Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Qatar have supported cooperation renewal, offering funding for civil servant salaries and energy infrastructure, and backing Syria's obligations to international financial institutions.
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