On November 11, 2025, history was made in Washington as Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa, a man once branded a terrorist and hunted with a $10 million U.S. bounty on his head, entered the White House for talks with President Donald Trump. The moment marked the first time a Syrian leader had set foot in the Oval Office since Syria’s independence in 1946, and it capped a year of dizzying geopolitical change for both Syria and the broader Middle East.
Sharaa’s journey to Washington was anything but ordinary. Just days before his visit, the U.S. government officially removed him from its ‘Specially Designated Global Terrorist’ list, a stunning reversal for the former al-Qaeda commander whose group, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), once fought under the infamous black flag. As reported by South China Morning Post, Sharaa’s rebel forces toppled longtime Syrian ruler Bashar al-Assad on December 8, 2024, after a lightning offensive that ended Assad’s decades-long grip on power.
Yet, the road to the White House was paved with more than just military victories. Six months before the historic visit, Trump and Sharaa met in Saudi Arabia, where the U.S. president announced plans to lift sanctions on Syria. The move signaled Washington’s willingness to back Syria’s fragile transition and help end the country’s long-standing international isolation. As Dawn reported, the White House and State Department have since publicly supported repealing the toughest measures, known as the Caesar Sanctions Act, though only Congress can fully lift them. For now, the U.S. Treasury Department has extended its suspension of enforcement for another 180 days, offering what officials described as “continued sanctions relief.”
Sharaa’s arrival in Washington was intentionally low-key. There were no flags or ceremonial greetings. He entered through a side door, largely out of sight of the gathered press—a far cry from the usual pomp afforded to foreign leaders. According to Reuters, even Turkey’s Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, in town for his own meetings, was invited to join part of the discussions, underscoring the regional significance of the moment.
During their talks, President Trump didn’t shy away from Sharaa’s complicated past. “We’ve all had rough pasts,” Trump told reporters, before adding, “I think he’s doing a very good job. It’s a tough neighbourhood, and he’s a tough guy, but I got along with him very well.” He went further, vowing, “We’ll do everything we can to make Syria successful.” Sharaa, for his part, brushed aside his former militant ties in a later interview with Fox News, insisting those days were behind him and that his meeting with Trump focused on Syria’s future, not its past.
One of the most significant outcomes of the visit was Syria’s formal announcement that it was joining the Global Coalition to Defeat Islamic State, becoming the 90th member of the alliance. According to a senior U.S. administration official cited by South China Morning Post, Syria’s membership means it will now partner with the U.S. to “eliminate Isis remnants and halt foreign fighter flows.” The two countries also agreed to resume diplomatic relations, paving the way for deeper counterterrorism, security, and economic cooperation.
Security, unsurprisingly, was at the top of the agenda. The U.S. is currently brokering talks on a possible security pact between Syria and Israel, a move that could reshape the region’s balance of power. Israel, however, remains wary of Sharaa’s past affiliations. Meanwhile, unconfirmed reports suggest Washington is considering establishing a military presence at a Damascus airbase, a development that would have been unthinkable just a year ago.
Sharaa’s new government has faced immediate threats at home. In the months leading up to his White House visit, two separate Islamic State plots to assassinate him were foiled, according to Syrian security officials quoted by Dawn. Over the weekend before the visit, Syria’s interior ministry launched a nationwide crackdown on IS cells, arresting more than 70 suspects. These events highlight the precariousness of Sharaa’s hold on power as he attempts to rebuild a country devastated by 14 years of civil war.
The scale of Syria’s postwar challenges is daunting. The World Bank estimates that more than $200 billion will be needed to reconstruct the nation’s shattered infrastructure and economy. Sectarian violence, which has flared since Assad’s fall, has claimed over 2,500 lives in recent months, deepening wounds and raising questions about the new leadership’s ability to govern inclusively. Sharaa is expected to push hard for a full repeal of U.S. sanctions, arguing that such a move would unlock desperately needed global investment and aid.
Not everyone in Washington is convinced. While several influential members of Congress have called for lifting the 2019 Caesar sanctions—originally imposed in response to Assad-era human rights abuses—some Republicans remain opposed. Their stance could shift, however, if Trump continues to apply pressure. The administration’s focus on Syria also comes as it seeks to maintain a U.S.-brokered ceasefire in Gaza and advance a 20-point plan for peace in the region, as noted by Dawn.
Sharaa’s rise is, in many ways, emblematic of Syria’s own rapid realignment. The country has pivoted away from Assad’s traditional patrons, Iran and Russia, and is now seeking closer ties with Turkey, the Gulf states, and the United States. The regional landscape is shifting as quickly as the fortunes of its key players. As Reuters observed, Syria’s decision to join the coalition against Islamic State and its willingness to engage with Israel reflect a pragmatic approach to survival and legitimacy on the world stage.
But the road ahead is fraught with uncertainty. Sharaa’s government must contend not only with the remnants of Islamic State but also with deep-seated sectarian divisions and the monumental task of reconstruction. The muted reception in Washington—no fanfare, no flags—was a subtle reminder that, while much has changed, trust and stability will take time to build.
Still, the fact that a former jihadist commander could be welcomed into the White House, shake hands with the U.S. president, and pledge to fight a common enemy marks a remarkable turnaround for Syria and a striking moment in international diplomacy. Whether this new partnership will endure remains to be seen, but for now, both sides appear willing to bet on the possibility of a different future.
