Syrian President al-Sharaa arrives in U.S. for landmark go to, set to satisfy Trump

Syria’s President Ahmed al-Sharaa arrived within the United States on Saturday (November 8, 2025) for a landmark official go to, his nation’s state information company reported, a day after Washington eliminated him from a terrorism blacklist.

Mr. Sharaa, whose insurgent forces ousted longtime ruler Bashar al-Assad late final yr, is because of meet U.S. President Donald Trump on the White House on Monday (November 10).

It’s the primary such go to by a Syrian president because the nation’s independence in 1946, in keeping with analysts.

The interim chief met Mr. Trump for the primary time in Riyadh throughout the U.S. President’s regional tour in May.

U.S. envoy to Syria Tom Barrack mentioned earlier this month that Mr. Sharaa would “hopefully” signal an settlement to hitch the worldwide U.S.-led alliance towards the Islamic State (IS).

The United States plans to ascertain a navy base close to Damascus “to coordinate humanitarian aid and observe developments between Syria and Israel”, a diplomatic supply in Syria instructed AFP.

The State Department’s determination Friday (November 7) to take away Mr. Sharaa from the blacklist was extensively anticipated.

State Department spokesman Tommy Pigott mentioned Mr. Sharaa’s authorities had been assembly U.S. calls for together with on working to seek out lacking Americans and on eliminating any remaining chemical weapons.

“These actions are being taken in recognition of the progress demonstrated by the Syrian leadership after the departure of Bashar al-Assad and more than 50 years of repression under the Assad regime,” Mr. Pigott mentioned.

The spokesman added that the U.S. delisting would promote “regional security and stability as well as an inclusive, Syrian-led and Syrian-owned political process.”

Transformation

Mr. Sharaa’s Washington journey comes after his landmark go to to the United Nations in September — his first time on U.S. soil — the place the ex-jihadist grew to become the primary Syrian president in a long time to deal with the UN General Assembly in New York.

On Thursday (November 6), Washington led a vote by the Security Council to take away UN sanctions towards him.

Formerly affiliated with Al-Qaeda, Mr. Sharaa’s group, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), was delisted as a terrorist group by Washington as not too long ago as July.

Since taking energy, Syria’s new leaders have sought to interrupt from their violent previous and current a reasonable picture extra tolerable to bizarre Syrians and international powers.

The White House go to “is further testament to the U.S. commitment to the new Syria and a hugely symbolic moment for the country’s new leader, who thus marks another step in his astonishing transformation from militant leader to global statesman,” International Crisis Group U.S. program director Michael Hanna mentioned.

Mr. Sharaa is predicted to hunt funds for Syria, which faces vital challenges in rebuilding after 13 years of brutal civil struggle.

In October, the World Bank put a “conservative best estimate” of the price of rebuilding Syria at $216 billion.