For more than a decade, Syria has been among the world's most isolated countries, devastated by civil war, economic failure, and heavy international sanctions.
But on May 14, a major shift occurred on the world stage when United States (US) President Donald Trump met with Syria's new president, Ahmed al-Sharaa – a former rebel known by the nom de guerre Abu Mohammed al-Jolani – in Riyadh.
This was the first meeting between the leaders of Syria and the US in a quarter of a century.
This step signals not only a new chapter for the war-torn country, but also a repositioning of regional alliances and power dynamics in the Middle East.
Speaking in the Saudi capital, Trump said the decision to lift sanctions, announced a day earlier, is intended to give Syria "an opportunity for greatness" as the country struggles to rebuild after more than a decade of civil war and economic devastation.
People celebrate in Damascus on May 13 after US President Donald Trump said he would order the lifting of sanctions on Syria.
People celebrate in Damascus on May 13 after US President Donald Trump said he would order the lifting of sanctions on Syria.
The sanctions, initially imposed to put pressure on the government of ousted President Bashar al-Assad, "are now directly affecting the Syrian people and hindering the recovery and reconstruction process," Syria's Foreign Ministry said after the announcement.
Welcoming Trump's decision, the Syrian Ministry said the sanctions "contributed to [Assad's] downfall" and added that Syrians "look forward to the complete lifting of sanctions as part of steps that support peace and prosperity in Syria and the region."
Damascus erupted in celebrations after Trump's announcement, and many Syrians are hoping for economic relief.
"Syria now has a real opportunity to return to the global economic system," Clara Broekaert, a researcher at the Soufan Center, told Radio Free Europe.
"This does not mean that the United States should give up all influence – especially when it comes to protecting minority rights – but the current sanctions regime does not do that, instead it punishes ordinary Syrian citizens," she said.
Historic meeting
The two leaders met briefly in Riyadh on the sidelines of Trump's meeting with leaders of the Gulf Cooperation Council.
The White House said Trump urged the Syrian leader to normalize relations with Israel by joining the so-called Abraham Accords, already signed by several Gulf Arab states.
He also demanded that Sharaa expel Palestinian militants and take control of camps housing Islamic State fighters and currently managed by Kurdish guerrillas opposed by Turkey.
The last such meeting took place in 2000, when US President Bill Clinton met with Hafez al-Assad in Geneva. Trump's meeting with Sharaa signals a warming of relations and a de facto recognition of the new Syrian leadership - something unthinkable just a few months ago.
From rebel to president
Sharaa's rise to the presidency is a story few would have predicted. He fought against US forces in Iraq and then founded Jabhat al-Nusra, the al-Qaeda-linked group, during the Syrian civil war.
Over time, he broke away from Al-Qaeda, renaming the group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, and consolidated power in northwest Syria. In late December 2024, Sharaa led a rapid rebel offensive, supported by Turkey, and took Damascus, ending half a century of Assad family rule.
He then announced the dissolution of all armed factions – including his own – and assumed the presidency under his birth name, promising constitutional reform and a new era for Syria.
Sharaa's transformation from rebel commander to head of state is both impressive and controversial. While he has worked to project a pragmatic image, promising security for minorities and being open to the international community, his past continues to raise concerns in the West and Israel.
Sharaa has struggled to control factions affiliated with his transitional government. This challenge was highlighted in March, when clashes erupted between security forces and fighters loyal to the ousted government backed by Iran and Russia. Human rights groups documented hundreds of casualties, including civilians.
Broekaert said that, despite recent reforms, American policymakers still have "ongoing concerns," including about sectarian violence in the coastal provinces.
"What I am personally following carefully is the integration of foreign fighters into the new security and governance structure," she said.
These issues, Broekaert added, “continue to fuel skepticism among influential policymakers in Washington about the sustainability and sincerity of these reforms.”
However, for many Syrians, Sharaa represents a break from decades of dictatorship and an opportunity for reconstruction after years of destruction.
“Sharaa has also, to be honest, very cleverly positioned his leadership and agenda as pragmatic and in line with US strategic interests, particularly in containing Iranian influence,” Broekaert said.
The decisive role of Saudi Arabia
This dramatic shift in US policy did not occur in a vacuum. Saudi Arabia, under the leadership of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, played a key role in orchestrating this diplomatic breakthrough.
Trump made his announcement at an investment conference in Riyadh on May 13, publicly crediting the Saudi prince as the driving force behind the decision.
Saudi Arabia, along with Turkey and several other Gulf Arab states, lobbied Washington persistently, arguing that engagement with the Sharaa government was essential for stabilizing Syria and curbing Iranian influence in the region.
The announcement coincided with Saudi Arabia's pledge to invest $600 billion in the US and the signing of a $142 billion arms deal - underscoring the extent of US-Saudi cooperation.
Stressing the "crucial" role of Saudi Arabia, Broekaert said that Mohammed bin Salman "combined diplomatic pressure with transactional incentives" to secure Trump's commitment to the new Syrian leadership and accelerate the lifting of sanctions.
How will this affect other regional actors?
Trump's embrace of Syria's new government is spreading across the region.
For Israel, this is a source of deep concern. Israeli officials, wary of Sharaa's jihadist past and the communal violence that accompanied his rise, fear that US normalization with Damascus could limit Israel's freedom of action and embolden hostile actors.
There are reports of indirect talks between Syria and Israel, possibly brokered by the United Arab Emirates, but Israeli skepticism remains high.
"It is clear that Israel's influence has declined in the Trump administration's handling of Syria," Broekaert said.
For Iran, the developments constitute a major strategic blow. The fall of the Assad regime and the rise of a government hostile to Tehran have severed a key link in Iran’s “axis of resistance” – its network of regional allies and proxies. Iranian assets in Syria have been seized, and the new government has shown little interest in establishing relations with Tehran.
Russia, too, has felt its influence waning. Although Moscow maintains military bases on the Syrian coast, the new government has made clear that Russia's future presence will depend on agreements that serve Syria's interests. Russia is now seeking ways to reengage with Damascus, but its influence has diminished./ REL (A2 Televizion)
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