During a high-profile summit this week, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman participated in person, while Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan joined the discussions via phone.
A significant moment occurred when former U.S. President Donald Trump shook hands with Syrian leader al-Sharaa — making Trump the first U.S. president in a quarter-century to meet face-to-face with a Syrian head of state.
Al-Sharaa, who has a background as an Islamist rebel and former jihadist, came to power following the ouster of longtime president Bashar al-Assad in December. Since then, he has received a cautious welcome from the international community. His promises to safeguard Syria’s minority populations and promote more inclusive policies have been met with cautious optimism.
However, a recent spike in sectarian violence has sparked renewed concerns. Observers worry that al-Sharaa’s government is struggling to curb the influence of armed extremist factions within the country.
Speaking at the Gulf Cooperation Council summit in Riyadh on Wednesday, Trump signaled a potential shift in U.S. policy. “We are currently exploring normalizing relations with Syria’s new government,” he said during his remarks.
He also announced plans to lift existing U.S. sanctions on Syria, aiming to provide what he described as a “fresh start” for the war-torn nation. “It gives them a chance for greatness,” Trump told attendees.
Trump’s speech in Riyadh came during his ongoing four-day tour of the Gulf region — his first major overseas trip since beginning his second term. The itinerary includes visits to Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates.













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