Trump says U.S. exploring normalization with Syria after meeting President al-Sharaa

RIYADH, May 14 (Saudi Arabia Breaking News) – U.S. President Donald J. Trump said on Wednesday that the United States is “exploring normalizing relations” with Syria following a high-level meeting in Riyadh with Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa.

“We are currently exploring normalizing relations with Syria’s new government,” Trump stated during his address at the Gulf Cooperation Council Summit, one day after announcing plans to lift U.S. sanctions on Damascus.

According to a White House readout, Trump presented President al-Sharaa with a series of directives, including supporting the Abraham Accords by normalizing ties with Israel, removing foreign militants from Syrian territory, deporting Palestinian combatants, aiding U.S. efforts to prevent an ISIS resurgence, and taking over responsibility for ISIS detention centers in northeast Syria.

The meeting was attended in person by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and joined via phone by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Trump noted that both leaders played a key role in his decision to lift sanctions.

Describing the sanctions as “crippling” and “very powerful,” Trump said lifting them “gives them a chance for greatness,” adding, “It’s not going to be easy anyway… so it gives them a good, strong chance, and it was my honor to do so.”

The leaders also discussed broader regional issues including the Israel-Hamas conflict and Russia’s war in Ukraine, the readout added.