Overview
- On November 10, President Donald Trump hosted Ahmed al‑Sharaa at the White House, the first visit by a Syrian head of state since independence.
- Washington removed al‑Sharaa from its terrorism list, restored diplomatic relations with Damascus, and has revoked or suspended multiple Syria sanctions following the talks.
- Al‑Sharaa announced Syria’s entry into the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS, making the country the coalition’s 90th member.
- Turkish foreign minister Hakan Fidan joined consultations in Washington, followed by a trilateral meeting with Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Syrian foreign minister Asaad al‑Shaibani to coordinate on Syria policy.
- Analysts say Syria has become a top Trump priority even as skepticism persists in Washington over al‑Sharaa’s past and the credibility of HTS’s shift toward moderation.