Donald Trump met with Syrian President Ahmed al-Saraa in the morning, one day after announcing the lifting of American sanctions. Present at the meeting—which fundamentally overturns U.S. foreign policy—was Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, while Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan participated via phone.

According to a White House spokesperson, Donald Trump called on Syria’s Ahmed al-Saraa to “expel Palestinian terrorists” and help the U.S. prevent a resurgence of the Islamic State. He urged Syria to sign the Abraham Accords with Israel. In response, the Syrian president invited American companies to invest in Syria’s oil and gas sectors.

The atmosphere was warm, marking the first time in 25 years that a U.S. president has officially met with the Syrian leader—an event considered historic and signaling an end to decades of Damascus’s diplomatic isolation. The last such high-level contact occurred in 2000, when then-U.S. President Bill Clinton met in Geneva with Hafez al-Assad—the father of the recently deposed Bashar al-Assad—in a failed attempt to promote peace in the Middle East.

Speaking later at a summit with leaders from six Arab countries, Donald Trump referred to the “truly exhausting sanctions” and announced that Washington is moving toward normalizing relations with Syria. “I felt very strongly that this move would give them a chance,” he stated.

Erdogan praised Trump’s decision to lift sanctions

According to Ankara, during the teleconference, Erdogan praised Donald Trump’s decision to lift sanctions on Syria, calling it “historically significant,” and declared that Turkey will continue to support the Syrian government in its fight against terrorism, especially against ISIS. He also expressed confidence that the U.S. decision to lift sanctions would set an example for other countries.

“I believe the United States’ decision to lift sanctions on Syria will serve as an example to other sanction-imposing countries,” he said.

The Turkish president also spoke about the situation in the Gaza Strip. “Our efforts to stop the cycle of violence in Gaza continue. It’s time to put an end to the humanitarian tragedy unfolding in Gaza,” Erdogan stated.

Trump’s Policy Shift

According to a White House official, Donald Trump and Ahmed al-Saraa spoke for approximately half an hour.

The meeting between Donald Trump and the Syrian president was the culmination of months of diplomatic efforts by Syria, as well as its Turkish and Saudi allies, who believed that a meeting with Trump would help end Syria’s international isolation.

Damascus had prepared a proposal for Trump that included access to Syrian oil, security assurances for Israel, and a proposal to build a Trump Tower in Damascus.

Syria interprets the meeting as a major step toward recognition of the legitimacy of its new administration, following the ousting of Bashar al-Assad. The Trump administration had previously shown hesitancy toward cooperating with al-Saraa.

The U.S. State Department had provided the Syrians with a lengthy list of conditions for lifting sanctions and was in negotiations when Trump suddenly announced the lifting of American sanctions on Tuesday night.

While European countries have relaxed sanctions on Syria, the United States had maintained a multi-layered system of economic restrictions that—combined with the war—have brought Syria to the brink of economic collapse.

The sanctions were officially lifted by Donald Trump during a speech at a business forum in Riyadh, where he is currently visiting. According to him, the decision came after pressure from Saudi Arabia and discussions with his Turkish counterpart, Tayyip Erdogan.

“I will request the lifting of sanctions on Syria so it has the opportunity to rise as a great power. Good luck, Syria—show us something truly special,” said Trump, a statement that was met with applause from the audience.

Trump in Qatar

After Riyadh, Donald Trump continues his Middle East tour with an official visit to Qatar.

According to the schedule released by the White House, the U.S. President is expected to arrive at Hamad International Airport in Doha within the next hour. He will then visit the Amiri Diwan, the seat of the Qatari government.

At 4:00 PM (local time), Trump is scheduled to arrive at the St. Regis Doha hotel for the official state welcome ceremony. At 8:00 PM, he will attend a formal dinner at the Lusail Palace, in the presence of high-ranking Qatari officials and business leaders.