Syria's President al-Sharaa Plans Historic US Visit to Discuss Sanctions, Reconstruction

Ahmed al-Sharaa, Syria's interim president and former Islamist rebel leader, is set to make a historic official visit to Washington in early November, marking the first time a Syrian president will visit the U.S. capital. During the visit, discussions are expected to focus on lifting remaining economic sanctions, Syria's reconstruction efforts after years of war, and counter-terrorism cooperation, including Syria's potential integration into the U.S.-led coalition against ISIS. The visit follows earlier meetings between al-Sharaa and President Donald Trump, including a notable first encounter in Riyadh, where Trump pledged to lift sanctions on Syria and expressed hopes for normalized ties between Syria and Israel under the Abraham Accords, though Syria has not engaged on this issue. The U.S. State Department has moved to remove the terrorist designation from al-Sharaa's group, reflecting a shift in U.S. policy aimed at stabilizing Syria. These developments highlight a significant recalibration of U.S.-Syria relations amid ongoing regional security concerns and the aftermath of Assad's ousting by Islamist-led forces.