Syrian President Arrives in US for Landmark Official Visit
President Ahmed Al-Sharaa's visit marks the first by a Syrian leader since the country's independence in 1946.
Syria's President Ahmed Al-Sharaa arrived in Washington, D.C. on Saturday for an official state visit, marking a significant diplomatic shift between Syria and the United States.
The visit comes a day after the U.S. removed Sharaa from its terrorism blacklist, a move that was widely anticipated following his ousting of longtime ruler Bashar Assad late last year.
Sharaa is scheduled to meet with U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House on Monday.
This encounter will be the first such meeting between Syrian and American leaders since 1946, according to analysts who track Middle Eastern geopolitics.
The interim president previously met with Trump in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia during Trump's regional tour in May.
The decision by the U.S. State Department to delist Sharaa was based on several factors, including his government’s efforts to locate missing Americans and ensure the complete elimination of any remaining chemical weapons.
State Department Spokesman Tommy Pigott stated that these actions recognize progress made by the Syrian leadership following Assad's departure and over 50 years of repression under his rule.
The delisting is intended to promote regional security, stability, as well as an inclusive political process led by Syrians themselves.
Additionally, Sharaa’s administration has been actively working against Daesh (ISIS), with recent raids targeting areas where the group still maintains sleeper cells across various regions in Syria.
This visit follows Sharaa's first trip to the United States in September, addressing the UN General Assembly and furthering his image as a moderate leader.
On Thursday, the U.S. led a successful vote at the Security Council that removed sanctions against him.
In October, the World Bank estimated the cost of rebuilding Syria after 13 years of civil war could reach $216 billion.
As part of his visit to secure international support, Sharaa is expected to seek funding for this monumental task.
The visit comes a day after the U.S. removed Sharaa from its terrorism blacklist, a move that was widely anticipated following his ousting of longtime ruler Bashar Assad late last year.
Sharaa is scheduled to meet with U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House on Monday.
This encounter will be the first such meeting between Syrian and American leaders since 1946, according to analysts who track Middle Eastern geopolitics.
The interim president previously met with Trump in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia during Trump's regional tour in May.
The decision by the U.S. State Department to delist Sharaa was based on several factors, including his government’s efforts to locate missing Americans and ensure the complete elimination of any remaining chemical weapons.
State Department Spokesman Tommy Pigott stated that these actions recognize progress made by the Syrian leadership following Assad's departure and over 50 years of repression under his rule.
The delisting is intended to promote regional security, stability, as well as an inclusive political process led by Syrians themselves.
Additionally, Sharaa’s administration has been actively working against Daesh (ISIS), with recent raids targeting areas where the group still maintains sleeper cells across various regions in Syria.
This visit follows Sharaa's first trip to the United States in September, addressing the UN General Assembly and furthering his image as a moderate leader.
On Thursday, the U.S. led a successful vote at the Security Council that removed sanctions against him.
In October, the World Bank estimated the cost of rebuilding Syria after 13 years of civil war could reach $216 billion.
As part of his visit to secure international support, Sharaa is expected to seek funding for this monumental task.