ISTANBUL — In a landmark development signaling the end of Syria's long international isolation, the Syrian government announced on Monday that it has signed a political cooperation declaration with the US-led Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS. The agreement positions Syria as a formal "partner in combating terrorism and supporting regional stability," according to Syrian Information Minister Hamza al-Mustafa. This move comes amid a whirlwind of diplomatic breakthroughs, including the official reopening of the Syrian Embassy in Washington, DC, after more than a decade of closure, and a historic White House meeting between Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa and US President Donald Trump.
The declaration, described by al-Mustafa as strictly political with "no military components" at present, marks a pivotal shift for a nation that has spent years mired in civil war, sanctions, and pariah status under the ousted Bashar al-Assad regime. Speaking on the platform X, al-Mustafa emphasized that the accord reaffirms Syria's commitment to eradicating ISIS remnants and preventing the resurgence of foreign fighters, aligning with the coalition's broader mission that now includes 90 member states. "This is a new chapter for Syria's return to the international community," he stated, underscoring the non-military nature of the pact as a foundation for future collaboration.
The announcement followed al-Sharaa's unprecedented visit to the White House, the first by a Syrian leader since the country's independence from France in 1946—nearly 80 years ago. The hour-plus meeting between al-Sharaa and Trump was characterized by al-Mustafa as "warm, candid, and forward-looking." Trump reportedly praised the Syrian president, saying, "You have done a great job—you have our support," and pledged to "get this done" in aiding Syria's reconstruction. Discussions reportedly centered on economic revitalization, including expanding bilateral trade, attracting US investments, and easing the stringent Caesar Act sanctions imposed in 2019 to punish Assad-era human rights abuses.
The Caesar Act, named after a Syrian-American whistleblower, has crippled Syria's economy, exacerbating a humanitarian crisis that displaced millions and fueled poverty. Under the new agreement, the US Treasury Department issued a 180-day waiver for comprehensive sanctions relief, replacing a prior temporary measure from May 2025. This waiver allows Syrian entities to engage in certain financial transactions and import essential goods, though full repeal requires congressional approval—a process al-Sharaa is pushing aggressively. "We have to help Syria," Trump reiterated, according to al-Mustafa, highlighting potential American private-sector involvement in rebuilding infrastructure devastated by 14 years of conflict.
A key agenda item was the integration of the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) into the Syrian Arab Army, a step aimed at unifying fractured military institutions and ensuring "lasting stability." The SDF, which played a crucial role in defeating ISIS's territorial caliphate alongside US forces, has long been a point of tension due to its autonomy in northeastern Syria. Al-Sharaa's government, which assumed power in January 2025 after leading a rebel offensive that toppled Assad in December 2024, views this merger as essential for national cohesion. Trump administration officials confirmed Syria's entry into the anti-ISIS coalition as the 90th member, with commitments to target lingering jihadist cells and halt foreign fighter inflows.
Adding another layer to the talks, Trump expressed support for a potential security arrangement between Syria and Israel, intended to bolster "national and regional stability." This comes against the backdrop of Israeli airstrikes on Syrian targets, which al-Sharaa has urged Washington to curb, alongside demands for Israel's withdrawal from southern Syrian territories occupied since 1967. While details remain sparse, such a pact could de-escalate border tensions and integrate Syria into broader Middle East normalization efforts, echoing the Abraham Accords.
The embassy reopening stands as perhaps the most tangible symbol of this diplomatic reset. Closed since March 2014 amid escalating civil war violence, the Syrian mission at 2215 Wyoming Avenue NW had languished under US restrictions. On Monday, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio signed an order lifting all legal barriers, allowing full diplomatic operations to resume. Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani hailed it as a "strategic win," enabling Damascus to "exercise its diplomatic role with full freedom on US soil." No ambassador has been named yet, but the move reciprocates earlier US gestures, such as the May 2025 reopening of the American ambassador's residence in Damascus.
Al-Shaibani and Rubio held a follow-up session post-White House talks to outline an "executive plan" for implementation, reflecting "serious commitment to tangible progress." Al-Sharaa departed the White House after nearly two hours of engagements with Trump and senior officials, greeted by a small crowd of supporters waving Syrian flags.
This visit caps al-Sharaa's extraordinary transformation from jihadist commander—once known as Abu Mohammed al-Jolani and head of the US-designated terrorist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS)—to statesman. Captured by US forces in Iraq in 2003, al-Sharaa broke from al-Qaeda in 2016 and pivoted HTS toward pragmatic governance after seizing Damascus. The US delisted HTS and removed a $10 million bounty on him just days before the trip, acknowledging his role in combating ISIS during the war's later stages. Since taking office, al-Sharaa has logged 20 foreign trips, including a May 2025 Riyadh summit with Trump, to court investors and allies like Saudi Arabia and Turkey.
Yet challenges loom. Syria's economy, ravaged by war, sanctions, and corruption, requires billions in aid; a $7 billion US-Qatari-Turkish energy project signed in May aims to revive its grid. Security threats persist, with over 70 alleged ISIS members detained in a pre-visit sweep. Critics, including human rights groups, warn that rapid engagement risks overlooking HTS's past abuses, while Assad loyalists and other militias could destabilize the transition.
Regionally, the deals ripple outward. Turkey, a key backer of al-Sharaa, stands to gain from SDF integration, potentially easing Kurdish autonomy disputes. Israel, wary of HTS's Islamist roots, may test the proposed security pact amid ongoing Golan Heights tensions. And in the broader fight against ISIS, Syria's inclusion bolsters coalition efforts, as the group—defeated territorially in 2019—still launches sporadic attacks from desert hideouts.
As al-Sharaa returned home, al-Mustafa posted on X: "A historic day opens doors to peace and prosperity." For a nation that endured over 500,000 deaths and hosted half the world's refugees, these steps offer cautious hope. But as Trump vowed, "everything we can" must follow words with action—lest the fragile thaw freeze anew.
