Washington, DC – November 9, 2025 – In a landmark diplomatic outreach that underscores Syria's fragile transition from decades of authoritarian rule, President Ahmed al-Sharaa arrived in Washington, DC, on Sunday for high-level talks with U.S. officials, including a scheduled meeting with President Donald Trump at the White House on November 10. The visit, the first by a Syrian head of state in nearly 80 years, comes just days after the United States and its allies lifted long-standing sanctions on al-Sharaa, marking a pivotal shift in Western policy toward the war-torn nation.
Al-Sharaa, a 43-year-old former rebel commander who rose to prominence as the leader of Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), met earlier that day with representatives of Syrian diaspora organizations at a discreet venue in the U.S. capital. According to reports from Syria's state-run Al-Ikhbariya TV, the gathering focused on fostering unity between expatriates and those at home to accelerate national reconstruction efforts. In his remarks, al-Sharaa invoked "the spirit of cooperation" that binds Syrians abroad to their homeland, urging collective action to heal the divisions wrought by over a decade of civil war. "The sanctions are in their final stages, and we must continue working toward their removal," he stated, framing the moment as a "rare opportunity" for Syria to reintegrate into the global community. Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani, who accompanied al-Sharaa, echoed these sentiments, emphasizing the transitional government's commitment to inclusive reforms.
The meeting with diaspora leaders was not merely symbolic; it highlighted al-Sharaa's strategy to leverage the roughly 6.8 million Syrian refugees and expatriates worldwide as key stakeholders in the rebuilding process. Organizations represented included the Syrian American Council and the European-Syrian Diaspora Network, which have advocated for eased sanctions and humanitarian aid corridors. Al-Sharaa reportedly pledged to establish a dedicated fund for expatriate investments in infrastructure projects, drawing on remittances that already exceed $1.5 billion annually to Syria. This outreach comes amid cautious optimism from international observers, who note that diaspora engagement could bolster social cohesion but warn of risks if minority voices—such as those from Alawite, Christian, and Druze communities—are sidelined.
Al-Sharaa's arrival in Washington capped a whirlwind itinerary that included his attendance at the COP30 Climate Summit in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on November 6. There, he addressed global leaders on Syria's vulnerability to climate-induced droughts, which exacerbated the 2011 uprising that spiraled into civil war. "Rebuilding Syria sustainably is not just a national imperative; it's a global one," al-Sharaa declared, securing pledges for $200 million in green reconstruction aid from European donors. His pivot from summit halls to the corridors of U.S. power reflects the multifaceted diplomacy of Syria's new leadership, balancing environmental pledges with hard-nosed security negotiations.
The timing of the visit is no coincidence. It follows by just two days the U.S. Department of State's announcement on November 7 delisting al-Sharaa—previously sanctioned under his nom de guerre Abu Mohammad al-Jolani—from the Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT) list under Executive Order 13224. The move, coordinated with the Treasury Department, also freed Interior Minister Anas Hasan Khattab from similar restrictions. This action built on a United Nations Security Council resolution adopted on November 6, championed by Washington, which removed both men from the ISIL (Da'esh) and al-Qaida sanctions regime with 14 votes in favor and China abstaining. U.S. Ambassador to the UN Mike Waltz hailed the decision as a "strong political signal" affirming Syria's "new era," while Syrian officials expressed gratitude for the support in countering terrorism and locating missing Americans.
These sanctions lifts are largely symbolic at this stage, as waivers had previously allowed al-Sharaa to travel abroad. However, they pave the way for broader economic relief, including the potential revocation of Syria's designation as a State Sponsor of Terrorism—a step that could unlock billions in frozen assets and facilitate foreign direct investment. Since June 2025, when President Trump revoked most U.S. sanctions on Syria during a meeting with al-Sharaa in Riyadh, bilateral ties have thawed rapidly. The White House meeting on November 10 is expected to formalize Syria's accession to the U.S.-led Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS, alongside discussions on a U.S.-brokered security pact with Israel to demilitarize border zones. Analysts anticipate talks on establishing a limited U.S. military presence at a Damascus airbase for humanitarian coordination and ISIS monitoring, though al-Sharaa has insisted any footprint must align with Syrian sovereignty.
Al-Sharaa's journey to this moment is as improbable as it is historic. Born in 1982 in Riyadh to a Syrian Sunni family from Daraa, he joined al-Qaeda in Iraq before the 2003 U.S. invasion and later founded HTS, an al-Qaeda affiliate in Syria that he rebranded in 2016 to distance from jihadist roots. Designated a terrorist with a $10 million bounty, al-Sharaa orchestrated an 11-day offensive in November 2024 that toppled Bashar al-Assad's regime, capturing Aleppo, Hama, Homs, and Damascus by December 8. Assad, who had ruled since 2000 and inherited power from his father Hafez in 1971, fled to Moscow that day, ending the Ba'ath Party's 61-year grip on Syria. Russian President Vladimir Putin granted him asylum, a decision Assad later described in a December 16 statement as an unplanned evacuation from the Hmeimim airbase amid the rebel advance.
The fall of Assad, after 13 years of a civil war that killed over 500,000 and displaced 13 million, unleashed initial euphoria in Syrian streets. Rebels released thousands from notorious prisons like Sednaya, symbolizing the end of a era defined by torture, chemical attacks, and barrel bombs. Al-Sharaa emerged as de facto leader on December 8, 2024, before his formal appointment as transitional president on January 29, 2025, at the Syrian Revolution Victory Conference in Damascus. There, the 2012 Ba'athist constitution was repealed, the old parliament and army dissolved, and HTS integrated into state institutions.
Under al-Sharaa's interim administration, formed in March 2025, Syria has pursued ambitious reforms. Security measures include vetting former regime officials and disbanding militias, though reports of revenge attacks on Alawites in March 2025 prompted a UN condemnation and an internal probe. Economically, the government has prioritized anti-corruption drives, with al-Sharaa appointing technocrats like his sister-in-law, Dr. Maher al-Sharaa, as presidential secretary-general. Socially, initiatives promote cohesion, including a "national dialogue conference" to draft an interim constitution by mid-2026. Internationally, al-Sharaa has mended fences: visiting Saudi Arabia in February, addressing the UN General Assembly in September—the first Syrian leader in 60 years—and meeting French President Emmanuel Macron in May.
Yet challenges persist. Turkey, hosting 2.9 million Syrian refugees, pushes for repatriation amid stalled returns. Israel occupies more of the Golan Heights buffer zone, citing security threats from HTS remnants. Iran and Russia, former Assad backers, have withdrawn influence but retain bases under negotiated terms. Domestically, integrating over 100 armed factions risks infighting, while economic woes—hyperinflation and 90% poverty—demand urgent aid.
The White House summit could catalyze progress. Trump, who praised al-Sharaa as a "tough guy" after their Riyadh encounter, envisions Syria joining the Abraham Accords, though al-Sharaa conditions normalization on Golan talks. U.S. officials, including envoy Tom Barrack, anticipate deals on counter-narcotics and chemical weapons dismantlement. For Syrians, the stakes are existential: al-Sharaa's visit tests whether his pledges of inclusivity translate into a stable, pluralistic state or devolve into another cycle of authoritarianism.
As al-Sharaa prepares for his Oval Office handshake, the world watches. In Damascus, citizens like shopkeeper Fatima al-Hussein express guarded hope: "We've buried one tyrant; let's not birth another." With sanctions fading and doors opening, Syria stands at a crossroads—reconstruction or relapse.
