Heads up, globe-trotters and news buffs – history in the making at the White House! President Trump just shook hands with Ahmad al-Sharaa, the Syrian interim leader, in a closed-door sit-down that could reboot US-Syria ties 🤝.
The hush-hush vibe was real: no cameras, no reporters – just the Oval Office, two leaders, and a world watching on silent mode. Syria’s top ask? A permanent repeal of US sanctions under the Caesar Act, while Washington wants to pull Damascus into the anti-IS coalition.
Back in May, Trump gave Syria a 180-day break on those sanctions after meeting al-Sharaa in Saudi Arabia. But making it permanent means a thumbs-up from Congress, the US 535-member decision squad. Meanwhile, Syria’s interior authorities have been on overdrive, launching a security push across multiple provinces to track down Islamic State cells.
Ahead of the sit-down, the UN Security Council – then the White House – lifted al-Sharaa and Syria’s interim interior minister from al-Qaeda and IS blacklists. Talk about a game changer!
Here’s where it gets real: al-Sharaa once had a US bounty of 10 million dollars for al-Qaeda ties. He cut those links years ago and led rebel forces that toppled Bashar al-Assad in December 2024, ending Syria’s brutal 14-year civil war.
What’s next? If this reset sticks, it could shift power balances across the Middle East and beyond – like a major plot twist in your favorite streaming series. For young pros in South and Southeast Asia, it shows diplomacy can be as unpredictable (and binge-worthy) as any K-drama finale. Stay tuned! 🌐
Reference(s):
U.S., Syria eye reset as Trump meets al-Sharaa at White House
cgtn.com
