Trump Meets With Syrian Leader, Urges Him to Join Abraham Accords

The president announced he had ordered the cessation of U.S. sanctions against Syria, warming diplomatic relations with the countryโ€™s de facto new leaders.

RIYADH, Saudi Arabiaโ€”President Donald Trump held a meeting with Syrian leader Ahmed al-Sharaa on Wednesday in Saudi Arabiaโ€™s capital, Riyadh. The historic meeting took place after the president announced on May 13 that he would lift sanctions on Syria.

The meeting with the Syrian leader took place before the presidentโ€™s scheduled address to the leaders of the Gulf Cooperation Council, which comprises six countries in the region, including Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, and Oman.

โ€œWe are currently exploring normalizing relations with Syriaโ€™s new government,โ€ Trump said during his remarks to the GCC leaders, noting that the process began with his meeting earlier with al-Sharaa.

Trump told reporters on Air Force One that the meeting with Ahmed al-Sharaa went โ€œgreat.โ€

โ€œHeโ€™s got a real shot at holding it together. I spoke with President Erdogan, who is very friendly with him. He feels heโ€™s got a shot of doing a good job. Itโ€™s a torn up country.โ€

He said he thought Syria would at some point join the Abraham Accords, an agreement that established diplomatic relations between Israel and several Arab neighbors in late 2020.

โ€œI think they have to get themselves straightened up,โ€œ Trump said. โ€I told him, โ€˜I hope youโ€™re going to join when itโ€™s straightened out.โ€™ He said, โ€˜Yes.โ€™ But they have a lot of work to do.โ€

Asked if there had been a conversation about a potential Trump Tower in Damascus, Trump said: โ€œNo, that I havenโ€™t heard. Weโ€™ll have to wait a little while until things calm down, a little while with the country.โ€

โ€œI think heโ€™s got the potential to doโ€”heโ€™s a real leader. He led a charge and heโ€™s pretty amazing,โ€ he added.

According to the White House, Trump also asked the Syrian leader to โ€œtell all foreign terrorists to leave Syria, deport Palestinian terrorists, help the U.S. prevent the resurgence of ISIS and assume responsibility for ISIS detention centers in Northeast Syria.โ€

Trump said that Secretary of State Marco Rubio is also scheduled to meet with Syriaโ€™s foreign minister in Turkey later this week.

On Tuesday, Trump announced he had ordered the cessation of U.S. sanctions against Syria, warming diplomatic relations with the countryโ€™s de facto new leaders, saying it was to โ€œgive them a fresh start.โ€

Byย Emel Akan

Read Full Article on TheEpochTimes.com

The Epoch Times
The Epoch Timeshttps://www.theepochtimes.com/
Tired of biased news? The Epoch Times is truthful, factual news that other media outlets don't report. No spin. No agenda. Just honest journalism like it used to be.

Columns

Viewers like you

There is no constitutional authority for any spending on public broadcasting โ€“ period. Any questions: See Article 1, Section 8 of the U.S. Constitution.

Beyond the Trump-Musk fallout?

We are witnessing an unprecedented, unhinged Democrat effort to use lawfare, big Democrat donors, street theater, congressional disruptions, potty-mouth videos, the administrative state, the legacy media, and discredited pollsters to stop the Trump agenda.

Trans-wormal

No worm ever said "I am anthropomorphizing, I am a butterfly" to a toad or flock of geese and expected acknowledgement and support.

In Greenlandโ€™s Icy Capital, Past Troubles Haunt Hopes for the Future

As geopolitical realities and ongoing economic growth raise the stakes, U.S. interest in Greenland and the dream of independence may change things in a big way.

How a Chinese Government Statistician Was Forced to Report Fake Data

Chinese local govt employee produced a non-authorized report on bees and was visited by police and threatened with being sent to a mental hospital.

News

Supreme Court Sides With DOGE in Social Security, Records Cases

The Supreme Court handed DOGE two big wins late on June 6 in its effort to reduce the size of the federal government.

Kilmar Abrego Garcia Returns to US to Face Criminal Charges

Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a citizen of El Salvador, is on his way back to the US, where he will face criminal charges for allegedly smuggling illegal immigrants.

White House Adviser Gives Update on DOGEโ€™s Future Amid Muskโ€“Trump Spat

A top White House adviser said DOGEโ€™s work will likely continue amid a spat between its former chief, Elon Musk, and President Donald Trump.

Trump Administration Asks Supreme Court to Allow Dismantling of Education Department

Trump admin asked Supreme Court to allow it to resume dismantling U.S. Dept of Education, following a lower courtโ€™s previous order halting process.

FTC Warns of Rising Student Loan Scams, Says Fraudsters Took Millions From Borrowers

FTC is warning borrowers to steer clear of student loan debt-relief scams, after shutting down group of companies that allegedly charged millions in illegal fees and left customers worse off.

Walmartโ€™s Drone Delivery Coming to 5 More US Cities

Walmart is set to launch its drone delivery service in five more U.S. cities: Atlanta, Charlotte, Houston, Orlando, and Tampa, the company.

Court Orders Trump Administration to Restore AmeriCorps Funding to States

Federal court ordered Trump admin to restore AmeriCorps funding to states. The ruling comes as part of a lawsuit filed by 24 states and DC.

Tax Deductions You Can Take Without Itemizing

Itโ€™s not always beneficial to itemize. With IRSโ€™s current standard deduction for 2025 most Americans who canโ€™t itemize go with standard deduction.
spot_img

Related Articles