Daijiworld Media Network - Washington

Washington, Nov 9: Syria’s President Ahmed al-Sharaa arrived in the United States on Saturday for a landmark official visit, a day after Washington removed him from its terrorism blacklist, Syria’s state news agency reported.

Sharaa, whose rebel forces toppled longtime ruler Bashar al-Assad late last year, is scheduled to meet US President Donald Trump at the White House on Monday. Analysts say this marks the first official visit by a Syrian president to the US since the country’s independence in 1946.

The two leaders previously met in Riyadh during Trump’s regional tour in May.

US envoy to Syria Tom Barrack said earlier this month that Sharaa was expected to sign an agreement to join the US-led international alliance against the Islamic State (IS).

A diplomatic source in Damascus told AFP that Washington also plans to establish a military base near Damascus to “coordinate humanitarian aid and observe developments between Syria and Israel.”

The US State Department’s decision to delist Sharaa from its terrorism watch list was widely anticipated.

State Department spokesman Tommy Pigott said the move recognized Syria’s progress under Sharaa’s leadership, including cooperation on locating missing Americans and eliminating 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,” Pigott said. He added that the delisting would help promote “regional security and stability as well as an inclusive, Syrian-led and Syrian-owned political process.”

Sharaa’s Washington visit follows his address at the UN General Assembly in September — his first appearance on US soil — where he represented the new Syrian government. On Thursday, the UN Security Council, led by Washington, voted to lift sanctions against him.

Formerly affiliated with Al-Qaeda, Sharaa’s group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) was removed from the US terror list in July. Since assuming power, Sharaa and his government have sought to distance themselves from their militant past and project a more moderate, reformist image.

“The White House visit is further testament to the US 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,” said Michael Hanna, US Program Director at the International Crisis Group.

During his visit, Sharaa is expected to seek financial aid for Syria’s post-war reconstruction, as the nation faces immense rebuilding challenges after 13 years of devastating conflict. The World Bank estimated in October that Syria’s recovery would require at least $216 billion.