Washington D.C. – In a historic move, Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharei held closed-door talks with U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House on Monday. This marks the first visit by a Syrian president to Washington since Syria’s independence in 1946.
The meeting comes days after al-Sharei’s removal from U.S. and international terrorism lists. The White House confirmed the meeting began midday, but did not release specific details regarding the discussions. Diplomatic sources suggest the talks focused on regional security, bilateral relations, and the future of the U.S. military presence in Syria.
Syrian state media reported that President al-Sharei departed the White House later that evening following the private meeting with President Trump. A statement from the Syrian Presidency indicated that al-Sharei and Trump discussed ways to strengthen relations and address regional issues during the visit. Both countries’ foreign ministers were reportedly present at the meeting.
Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani stated that during the meeting, both leaders affirmed their support for Syria’s unity, reconstruction efforts, and the removal of obstacles hindering its progress.
The visit coincided with a gathering of Syrian-Americans in front of the White House, waving Syrian and American flags and holding signs welcoming al-Sharei and calling for the lifting of sanctions against Syria.
Meanwhile, the Pentagon denied reports of plans to deploy U.S. forces to an airbase in Damascus, emphasizing that the United States has “no intention of establishing a new military presence” and that Syria is “on its way to joining the international coalition against ISIS.”
This meeting represents a culmination of a pivotal year in modern Syrian history. Al-Sharei, 43, ascended to power late last year following the removal of Bashar al-Assad, initiating radical internal and external reforms that have reintegrated the country into the international arena, shifting away from Tehran and Moscow, and closer to Washington, Ankara, and the Gulf states.
