On the sidelines of Syria’s interim president, Ahmed al-Sharah, visiting Washington, the United States announced new waivers to lift the most severe sanctions against Syria.
The move on Monday coincided with al-Shallah’s meeting with President Donald Trump at the White House, underscoring Damascus’s efforts to forge strong economic ties with Western countries after the fall of former President Bashar al-Assad.
Recommended stories
list of 3 itemsend of list
It also highlighted al-Shara’s remarkable transformation from al-Qaeda leader to Syrian president who fosters friendly relations with the United States.
The Syrian President’s Office announced that al-Sharah and President Trump held talks that “focused on the bilateral relationship between Syria and the United States, ways to strengthen and develop the relationship, and a number of regional and international issues of common interest.”
Meanwhile, President Trump praised Al-Shallah after the meeting.
“He comes from a very tough background, and he’s a tough guy. I like him,” Trump said of the Syrian president.
“We will do everything we can to make Syria successful, because it is part of the Middle East. We are now bringing peace to the Middle East, for the first time in as long as anyone can remember ever happening.”
President Trump has claimed that the US-brokered ceasefire in Gaza has brought historic peace to the Middle East. But Israel continues to carry out deadly attacks every day in the occupied Palestinian territories and across Lebanon.
Last December, al-Shara led Syrian rebels to overthrow the al-Assad government and end the civil war that began in 2011 as a rebellion against Syria’s former president.
Al-Shallah became the first Syrian president to visit the White House. President Trump met with him during a visit to Saudi Arabia in May, during which the US president announced his intention to lift sanctions on Damascus.
“Great Opportunity”
Monday’s new sanctions relief suspends the Caesar Act sanctions that prohibit U.S. business dealings with the Syrian government and military for another six months.
Syria advocates are lobbying the U.S. Congress to permanently repeal the sanctions law.
“Lifting U.S. sanctions will help Syria rebuild its economy, bring prosperity to all its citizens, including ethnic and religious minorities, and support the fight against terrorism,” the U.S. Treasury Department said in a statement.
He added that by lifting U.S. sanctions and ensuring accountability against malign actors, President Trump is delivering on his promise to give Syria a ‘chance for greatness’ and enable Syria to rebuild and prosper.
Several US and Syrian media outlets have suggested that Damascus would also join the US-led international military coalition against the Islamic State group (ISIS).
Such a move could pave the way for the withdrawal of US troops from the country.
Mr. al-Sharaa, 43, was captured by U.S. forces in Iraq during Washington’s occupation of the country and headed the al-Qaeda branch in Syria.
Less than a year ago, the United States designated him a “global terrorist” and offered a $10 million reward for information leading to his arrest.
However, the Syrian president had split from al-Qaeda in 2016.
Since ousting al-Assad, al-Shara has further revamped his image, dropping his real name, Abu Mohammed al-Julani, and promoting a tolerant and inclusive Syria.
Syria’s president, addressing the United Nations General Assembly earlier this year, said his country was “regaining its rightful place among the nations of the world.”
Under his leadership, the United States and European countries have slowly welcomed Syria back into the international community after decades of hostility with the country’s previous regime.
Still, al-Shara received a quiet welcome at the White House on Monday. I entered the White House through a side door, but President Trump was not there to greet me outside.
There was no opportunity to take photos in front of the press corps or the joint press conference between the two leaders.
Syrian president meets with Mast
Al-Shallah was meeting late Sunday with Congressman Brian Mast, chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and one of the country’s most staunchly pro-Israel politicians.
“Last night, Syria’s new president, Ahmed al-Shalah, and I shared bread. We had a long and serious conversation about how to build a future for the Syrian people free of war, ISIS, and extremism,” Mast, who previously appeared in parliament wearing an Israeli military uniform and insisted there are no innocent Palestinian civilians, said in a statement.
The Republican lawmaker is reportedly skeptical about pushing for lifting sanctions against Syria.
Since the fall of the al-Assad regime, Israel has regularly bombed military facilities and state institutions in Syria. Israeli forces have also advanced into the southern part of the country, far beyond the occupied Golan Heights.
Al-Shara has said early on that Syria does not pose a threat to Israel, and his government has detained Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) leaders in the country.
However, the proverbial olive branch failed to deter the Israeli attack.
Al-Sharaa said it was seeking a security agreement with Israel to ensure the withdrawal of Israeli troops from areas it occupied over the past year.
On Monday, President Trump told reporters he was working with Israel on “friendly relations with Syria.”
Asked about a possible agreement between Syria and Israel, he said: “You can expect some kind of announcement regarding Syria.”
“We want Syria to become a very successful country, and I think this leader can do that. I really do. And people say he had a difficult past. We all have a difficult past.”
