Syrian President arrives in US for historic visit, set to meet Trump

New Delhi,UPDATED: Nov 9, 2025 06:38 IST

Syria’s President Ahmed al-Sharaa arrived in the United States on Saturday for a historic official visit, the first by a Syrian president since the country’s independence in 1946, according to analysts. His visit comes just a day after Washington removed him from a terrorism blacklist.

Sharaa, whose rebel forces overthrew longtime ruler Bashar al-Assad last year, is scheduled to meet US President Donald Trump at the White House on Monday.

He earlier met Trump in Riyadh during the US president’s regional tour in May. US envoy to Syria Tom Barrack has expressed hope that Sharaa will sign an agreement to join the US-led coalition against the Islamic State (IS).

A diplomatic source in Syria revealed that the US plans to establish a military base near Damascus “to coordinate humanitarian aid and observe developments between Syria and Israel.” State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott confirmed that Sharaa was removed from the blacklist after his government met US requirements, including efforts to locate missing Americans and dismantle remaining chemical weapons.

Pigott described the delisting as recognition of the progress Syria’s leadership has made following decades of repression under Assad. He added that it would support regional security and a “Syrian-led and Syrian-owned political process.”

Sharaa’s Washington trip follows his September visit to the United Nations, where he became the first Syrian president in decades to address the UN General Assembly. That visit was preceded by the UN Security Council removing sanctions against him, while his former group, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS)—previously linked to Al-Qaeda—was delisted as a terrorist organization by the US in July.

Since taking power, Sharaa and Syria’s new leadership have sought to distance themselves from their militant past and present a more moderate image to both Syrians and the international community.

Michael Hanna, director of the Crisis Group’s US program, described the White House visit as a symbolic step in Sharaa’s transformation from militant leader to global statesman. During the visit, Sharaa is expected to seek international funds to aid Syria’s recovery, which the World Bank estimates could cost around USD 216 billion following 13 years of civil war.

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