Image Credit: X account @WhiteHouse
US-Syria Talks: Historic White House Meeting
On 10 November 2025, U.S. President Donald Trump welcomed Syrian President Ahmed al‑Sharaa to the White House in what is reported as the first visit by a Syrian head of state to Washington since Syria gained independence. This meeting marks a significant shift in U.S.-Syria relations.
First-of-its-kind Encounter
Al-Sharaa arrived at the White House for closed-door talks with President Trump, discussed bilateral cooperation and regional security issues. According to U.S. officials, the agenda included Syria’s entry into a U.S.-led coalition to combat the Islamic State group and reconstruction plans for war-torn Syria.
Sanctions Relief Move
Immediately after the meeting, the U.S. Treasury announced a 180-day suspension of key sanctions under the Caesar Syria Civilian Protection Act, which had targeted Syria over human-rights abuses by the previous regime. The core framework of the Act remains in place and could only be repealed by U.S. Congress.
Wider Impact
The visit signals that Damascus is emerging from long-standing isolation and that Washington is willing to recalibrate its Middle East strategy. However, analysts caution that many sanctions remain, and full normalisation of relations will depend on political, security and human-rights benchmarks being met.
