ALBAWABA- U.S. President Donald Trump has suggested lifting sanctions on Syria as a goodwill gesture ahead of expected talks with Syria’s new leader, Ahmed al-Sharaa, during his Middle East tour, which includes stops in Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the UAE.
In a bold bid to reset relations with Washington, Sharaa is reportedly offering Trump a series of dramatic incentives: the construction of a Trump Tower in Damascus, normalization of ties with Israel, and lucrative access to Syria’s untapped oil and gas reserves, framing them as part of a "Ukraine-style" economic partnership, as reported by the Times.
Sources close to the effort told Reuters that Sharaa’s proposal is aimed at giving Syria a “fresh start” after years of war and isolation, despite the Syrian leader still being listed as a terrorist by the U.S. government for past links to al-Qaeda.
⚡️Trump: “I expect all sanctions on Syria to be lifted. Erdogan and other regional leaders have requested this, and we will make a decision soon.” pic.twitter.com/fpfRvjdRLe
— War Monitor (@WarMonitors) May 12, 2025
Sharaa has already met with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and is pushing for a symbolic yet strategic meeting with Trump, though no formal invitation has been confirmed.
U.S. activist Jonathan Bass, who met Sharaa in Damascus on April 30, is leading backchannel efforts with Gulf Arab allies to facilitate the encounter. Bass told Reuters that Sharaa views Trump as a “partner for peace and business,” citing the Syrian leader’s wish for “regional stability, normalization with Israel, and economic recovery.”
While the White House has acknowledged recent diplomatic contacts with Syria, U.S. officials remain cautious. National Security Council spokesperson James Hewitt emphasized that Syria’s actions, not promises, will determine any change in U.S. policy.
