President Ahmed al‑Sharaa, a former jihadist leader whose forces toppled Bashar al‑Assad, will make the first official White House visit by a Syrian president in modern times. The trip follows a UN vote to lift sanctions on Sharaa and the US delisting of his group HTS. Key topics include Syria joining the US‑led anti‑IS coalition, a proposed US presence near Mazzeh airport outside Damascus, and reconstruction funding (World Bank estimate: $216 billion). Analysts view the visit as a major shift in US policy with broad regional implications.
Historic White House Visit: Former Jihadist Leader Ahmed al‑Sharaa to Meet President Trump
President Ahmed al‑Sharaa, a former jihadist leader whose forces toppled Bashar al‑Assad, will make the first official White House visit by a Syrian president in modern times. The trip follows a UN vote to lift sanctions on Sharaa and the US delisting of his group HTS. Key topics include Syria joining the US‑led anti‑IS coalition, a proposed US presence near Mazzeh airport outside Damascus, and reconstruction funding (World Bank estimate: $216 billion). Analysts view the visit as a major shift in US policy with broad regional implications.
20:22, 07.11.2025Politics
Former jihadist-turned-president makes unprecedented White House trip
President Ahmed al‑Sharaa will arrive in Washington on Monday to become the first Syrian head of state in modern history to make an official visit to the White House. The meeting with President Donald Trump marks a dramatic diplomatic turn for Sharaa, whose rebel forces ousted Bashar al‑Assad late last year and who previously had ties to militant groups.
Ahead of the visit, the United Nations Security Council voted to lift sanctions on Sharaa, removing the requirement for a UN exemption for his foreign travel. The resolution was drafted by the United States, whose UN ambassador Mike Waltz said Sharaa's government was "working hard to fulfil its commitments on countering terrorism and narcotics," according to AFP.
US envoy to Syria Tom Barrack has said Sharaa may sign an agreement to join the international, US‑led coalition against the Islamic State (IS), potentially formalizing security cooperation. Diplomatic sources cited by AFP also say Washington plans to establish a military presence at the Mazzeh military airport near Damascus "to coordinate humanitarian aid and observe developments between Syria and Israel."
Past affiliations and delisting
Sharaa's group, Hayat Tahrir al‑Sham (HTS), was formerly linked to Al‑Qaeda and was removed from the US terrorist list as recently as July — a key step in normalizing relations. Since taking power, Sharaa's authorities have sought to distance themselves from their violent past and present a more moderate image to ordinary Syrians and foreign governments.
Policy aims and international response
Analysts and historians emphasize the symbolic and strategic weight of the visit. Historian Sami Moubayed described the trip as "the first in modern Syrian history for a Syrian president to the White House." Nick Heras of the New Lines Institute argued that the visit signals a new chapter in US Middle East policy and suggested Washington views Sharaa as a pragmatic, and potentially pliable, partner.
"Sharaa wants Trump's blessing to unlock billions of dollars... both to kickstart the rehabilitation of Syria and to cement his control over the country indefinitely," analyst Nick Heras said.
Reconstruction and financing are expected to feature prominently. The World Bank has estimated a conservative rebuilding cost of about $216 billion. Sharaa is widely reported to be seeking international funds to begin reconstruction and consolidate authority inside Syria.
Security dynamics and regional implications
Most US troops in Syria are currently based in the northeast with Kurdish-led forces, the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), who played a central role in defeating IS territorially in 2019 and are negotiating integration into Syria's military. The White House meeting will likely cover whether Syria formally joins the anti‑IS coalition and the future role of US forces and bases in the country.
Trump and Sharaa are also expected to discuss nascent direct talks between Damascus and Israel. The US has expressed hope that Syria could eventually normalize ties with Israel under arrangements similar to the Abraham Accords, though Sharaa has so far only hinted at a security arrangement rather than formal recognition. Analysts warn that any rapprochement could also expand Israeli influence in strategic parts of Syria.
Reporting on many details of the visit and planned agreements is based on diplomatic sources and AFP reporting; officials in Washington and Damascus may provide further specifics during or after the meetings.