Daijiworld Media Network - Riyadh

Riyadh, May 14: In a surprise diplomatic development, US President Donald Trump met with Syria's interim leader Ahmed al-Sharaa in Riyadh on Wednesday, alongside Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman. The meeting marks a significant moment in Middle East politics, coming just hours after Trump announced the lifting of US sanctions on Syria.

The Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed the high-level talks via X (formerly Twitter), posting images of the three leaders and stating: “HRH the Crown Prince holds a meeting with the US President and the Syrian President.”

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and senior American officials were also present during the closed-door discussions. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan joined the meeting virtually, participating via phone.

Trump, speaking during an address in Riyadh the night before the meeting, outlined his rationale for lifting sanctions:

“After discussing the situation in Syria with the Crown Prince and President Erdogan... I will be ordering the cessation of sanctions against Syria, in order to give them a chance at greatness.”

The move signals a dramatic pivot in US policy towards Syria, as Washington appears to support the new leadership in Damascus under Ahmed al-Sharaa. Once a commander of the hardline Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), Sharaa has emerged as Syria’s interim leader following the overthrow of Bashar al-Assad’s regime in December.

Earlier this month, Sharaa had met with French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris, part of a broader diplomatic campaign aimed at reintegrating Syria into the international community under its new leadership.

Trump’s Middle East tour, which began Tuesday, includes stops in Qatar and the United Arab Emirates. Upon arrival in Riyadh, he was greeted with full ceremonial honors including a 21-gun salute and a reception by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman at King Khalid International Airport.

The US President later joined the Crown Prince for a formal welcome at Al-Yamamah Palace, where they discussed regional cooperation and future development.

In his Tuesday address, Trump expressed optimism about a changing Middle East:

“Before our eyes, a new generation of leaders is transcending the ancient conflicts and tired divisions of the past. The Middle East is poised to become a hub of commerce, not chaos—an exporter of technology, not terrorism.”

The historic meeting with Sharaa adds a bold chapter to Trump’s ongoing efforts to redefine America’s role in the region. However, it is also likely to raise questions in global diplomatic circles, particularly given Sharaa's controversial past.