Riyadh/Doha, May 14 (EFE).— In a dramatic reset of US Middle East policy, President Donald Trump held the first direct talks with Syria’s new leader, Ahmed al-Sharaa, on Wednesday after lifting all sanctions on Damascus.
It came as the visiting US president secured hundreds of billions of dollars in strategic and economic deals with Saudi Arabia before flying off to Qatar to receive a new presidential aircraft from Doha.
The whirlwind four-day tour signaled Washington’s renewed ambition to shape the region’s post-conflict landscape, leveraging investment, diplomacy, and shifting alliances.
Trump’s Middle East tour entered a high-stakes phase as he met with al-Sharaa in a landmark 33-minute meeting in Riyadh, the first direct US-Syria engagement in 25 years.
The historic meeting, held during a special Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) session, came just a day after Trump lifted all US sanctions on Syria.
The move, coordinated with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, was praised as “brave” and “bold,” signaling a major shift in Washington’s approach to Damascus following the collapse of the Assad regime last year.
“With the of the great leaders in this room, we are currently exploring normalising relations with Syria’s new government,” Trump said, confirming his brief meeting with al-Sharaa.
“I will be ordering the cessation of sanctions against Syria at greatness,” he said, sparking a thunderous applause at a meeting with Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) leaders in Saudi Arabia’s capital Riyadh.
“It’s their time to shine. We’re taking them all off.”
He said the new government in Syria would hopefully succeed in stabilizing the country and keeping peace, referring to the interim government led by President al-Sharaa.
Trump urged al-Sharaa to seize “a great opportunity to do something historic,” outlining US expectations, which include normalizing ties with Israel via the Abraham Accords, expelling foreign militant groups, deporting Palestinian militants, and taking control of Islamic State detention centers in northern Syria.
Al-Sharaa responded by expressing openness to honoring the 1974 Golan Heights ceasefire with Israel and inviting US companies to invest in Syria’s oil and gas sectors.
Once a radical figure, al-Sharaa has reportedly moderated his stance and gained from Sunni powers, including Saudi Arabia.
Earlier, Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan said Trump’s visit had ushered in “an even more ambitious phase” in bilateral ties.
Speaking at a press conference in Riyadh, he announced new commercial, strategic, and economic agreements exceeding $600 billion, with over $300 billion confirmed across sectors such as artificial intelligence, energy, infrastructure, defense, and financial services.
“These agreements reflect the depth of our strategic partnership and the goals of Vision 2030,” Bin Farhan said, referring to the kingdom’s economic diversification blueprint.
The deals also include provisions to enhance Saudi Arabia’s defense manufacturing capacity, with a goal of producing half its military equipment domestically by 2030.
In the renewable energy sector, Bin Farhan said US cooperation would help deliver affordable, sustainable power and create skilled jobs for Saudis, particularly in nuclear energy operations and maintenance.
Trump also participated in a high-level GCC meeting attended by leaders from Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, and the United Arab Emirates.
On Tuesday, Saudi Arabia’s prime minister and de facto leader, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, expressed his intent to deepen trade ties with the US and raise bilateral cooperation to $1 trillion across defense, security, and economic sectors.
Following the Riyadh engagements, Trump flew to Doha, where he was welcomed by Qatari Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and other senior officials.
According to US media, he is expected to accept a Boeing 747-800 from Qatar’s royal family as the future Air Force One, a symbolic gesture underscoring the strength of US-Qatar ties.
Trump’s three-nation sweep signals a coordinated regional effort to realign the post-conflict Middle East.
Trump’s overtures to Syria, economic diplomacy with Saudi Arabia, and military symbolism in Qatar collectively reflect Washington’s drive to assert influence amid changing alliances and shifting power dynamics. EFE
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