Ahmed al-Sharaa Arrives in Washington, Becomes First Syrian President to Visit US Since 1946

Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa arrived in Washington on November 8, 2025, for a historic official visit—the first by a Syrian head of state since the country's independence in 1946—culminating in a White House meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump scheduled for November 10. The trip follows the U.S. State Department's removal of al-Sharaa from its terrorism blacklist on November 7, recognizing his government's progress on issues like locating missing Americans and eliminating chemical weapons remnants since ousting Bashar al-Assad in late 2024. Al-Sharaa, former leader of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS)—delisted as a terrorist group by the U.S. in July—previously met Trump in Riyadh in May, marking a rapid normalization after decades of hostility.

The visit underscores al-Sharaa's transformation from al-Qaeda-affiliated jihadist to statesman, with expectations he will sign an agreement joining the U.S.-led global coalition against Islamic State (ISIS) and discuss regional stability, including Syria-Israel ties and potential U.S. military presence near Damascus for humanitarian coordination. U.S. envoy Tom Barrack highlighted the trip as a step toward an inclusive Syrian political process, while the UN Security Council lifted sanctions on al-Sharaa days earlier. Al-Sharaa's September address to the UN General Assembly in New York was his prior U.S. soil appearance, building on Trump's May sanctions relief to aid post-war recovery.

Analysts view the White House summit as symbolic of deepening U.S.-Syria ties under Trump, who has pushed for al-Sharaa to normalize with Israel and join broader Middle East peace efforts, including potential Abraham Accords expansion. Al-Sharaa is anticipated to seek international funding for reconstruction, estimated by the World Bank at $216 billion after 13 years of civil war that displaced millions and devastated infrastructure.

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This landmark engagement reflects Syria's reintegration into global diplomacy nearly a year after Assad's fall, with al-Sharaa's moderate governance shift earning Western backing amid ongoing challenges like ISIS remnants and minority protections. As direct Israel-Syria talks mediated by the U.S. loom post-visit, the meeting could reshape regional dynamics in a volatile Middle East.

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