On November 10, 2025, US President Donald Trump welcomed Syrian leader Ahmad al-Sharaa to the White House, praising him as a ‘very strong leader’ and expressing confidence in his ability to rebuild Syria. The meeting marked a significant shift in US-Syria relations, as al-Sharaa, a former jihadist commander linked to Al-Qaeda, is now part of a government that has been removed from US terrorist lists. Trump described al-Sharaa as someone who ‘comes from a very tough place’ and has ‘a tough guy’ demeanor, adding that ‘we want to see Syria become a country that’s very successful.’
Al-Sharaa’s rise to power was marked by the ousting of longtime leader Bashar Assad in December 2024. He has since pledged to rebuild the war-torn country and protect its ethnic and religious minorities. However, the leader’s regime has faced criticism for sectarian violence against Druze and Christian communities, drawing condemnation from the US. Just days before the White House visit, the US, along with the UK and the UN, removed al-Sharaa from their respective terrorist lists. The US extended the suspension of sanctions on al-Sharaa for another 180 days, as Syria seeks to normalize bilateral ties and expand security cooperation.
American media outlets reported that Syria would officially join the US-led coalition to fight Islamic State (IS, formerly ISIS). The Syrian Foreign Ministry stated that US, Syrian, and Turkish diplomats had agreed on a plan to integrate the US-backed, Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) into the Syrian army. The SDF has controlled large parts of the north and east of the country since the mid-2010s. Al-Sharaa also met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow last month, after which Bloomberg reported that Moscow had resumed flights to the Khmeimim Air Base in western Syria, which had been suspended in 2024.
Analysts note that the US’s shift in stance toward al-Sharaa marks a significant change in the geopolitical landscape of Syria and the broader Middle East. As the international community continues to reassess its role in the region, the implications of this development are far-reaching and complex.