Trump to meet Syrian president after announcing he’ll lift sanctions; to head for Qatar today | World News
US President Donald Trump, who is on a three-nation tour to the Middle East, is poised to meet interim Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa following a surprise announcement the US government to lift all sanctions on the Islam-led government.
Despite concerns that Syrian leader Ahmed had previous ties to Al Qaeda, Trump said that he would lift the sanctions on Syria during a speech in Riyadh on Tuesday. Trump agreed to “say hello” to Syria’s interim president on Wednesday in Saudi Arabia, White House confirmed.
Syria’s Ahmed al-Sharaa will be in Riyadh on Wednesday for meetings with the Gulf Cooperation Council. After the US president announced the lifting of sanctions, people in Damascus celebrated it with cheers, dance and celebratory gunfire, BBC reported.
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The sanctions on Syria curtailed the country from receiving any kind of foreign financing, including aid and were originally meant to exert pressure on the now ousted President Bashar al-Assad.
President Trump speaks at the 2025 Saudi-U.S. Investment Forum after securing a horic $600 BILLION investment commitment from Saudi Arabia in the United States. pic.twitter.com/vYaQ2Kq3Qu
— The White House (@WhiteHouse) May 13, 2025
During his address at an investment forum in Saudi Arabia’s Riyadh, Trump said the decision to lift sanctions would provide Syria “a chance at greatness” and added that “it’s their time to shine.”
“There is a new government that will hopefully succeed. I say good luck, Syria. Show us something special,” Trump had said while announcing the decision to lift sanctions, adding that it was decided after a discussion with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
On his first day visit to Saudi Arabia, Trump secured a $600 billion investment from Saudi Arabia amid lavish ceremonies and business deals and 142 billion in American arms sales to Riyadh.
After meeting the Syrian leader in Riyadh, later on Wednesday Trump would fly to Qatar’s capital Doha to participate in a state visit with Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani. Qatar, which is an ally of Washington, is also expected to announce hundreds of billions of dollars in investments.
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