The Hill: The details of Ahmed al Sharaa with Trump at the white house

The White House witnessed an unprecedented event in the history of Syrian-US relations, as US President Donald Trump received his Syrian counterpart Ahmed al Sharaa in the first official visit by a Syrian president to Washington since the establishment of the modern Syrian Republic.

According to The Hill newspaper, the talks took place in an atmosphere of complete secrecy, an unusual move for this type of high-level meeting.

The talks focused on several key files, most notably the lifting of sanctions imposed on Syria, especially the Caesar Act, as well as strengthening cooperation in counterterrorism and discussing the fate of missing American journalists in Syria.

During the meeting, President Trump praised President Sharaa, describing him as a strong leader who came from a difficult environment, and reiterated the commitment of the two sides to work together for the success of the new Syria and its reintegration into the international community after years of war and isolation.

The meeting took place behind closed doors away from the lenses of the press, which was considered to be a rare behavior by Trump, who is known for his media openness during his official meetings.

According to a videos, Sharaa entered the White House from the Western Executive Entrance dedicated to secret meetings, giving an exceptional character to the visit, which was described as a “meeting to rebuild trust between Damascus and Washington”.

The visit opened the door to new economic and security cooperation between the two countries, aimed at returning Syria to the international track and combating terrorist organizations.

President Trump stressed in a subsequent press conference that Syria has become a partner in the fight against extremism, and there is a mutual understanding on the need to achieve stability and economic development.

The visit didn’t go without a controversy in US political circles, with Congress clearly divided between supporters of the move as the beginning of Syria’s reconstruction and opponents who see it as a concession to the principles of sanctions.

Ahmed al Sharaa met with a number of members of Congress, including the chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee, Rep. Brian Mast, who described the meeting as “a turning point in relations between the two countries,” noting that he and Sharaa have mutual respect despite the military past of both countries.

From his part, Rep. Joe Wilson, a supporter of the sanction’s relief project, also announced that “President al Sharaa has shown a real desire to cooperate with the United States and move beyond the past for a better future for Syria”.

Based on the understandings that have taken place, Trump has issued directives to the Departments of the Treasury, State, and Commerce to facilitate the dealings of American companies with their Syrian counterparts, especially in the fields of technology, energy, and reconstruction.

The US president also abolished some of the old penal systems, such as the Syria Accountability Law and the restoration of Lebanese sovereignty, in preparation for a new phase of economic relations.

In a move described as “symbolic and historic,” Trump announced that Syria would officially join the Global Coalition to Fight the Islamic State, becoming the coalition’s 90th member.

An administration official said the decision reflects Damascus’s desire for international security co-operation and its commitment to fighting extremism and preventing the return of foreign fighters.

The legitimate president has the support of a number of US lawmakers from both the Republican and Democratic parties.

Senator Joni Earnest, who previously served in the US military, said she welcomes this bold step and sees it as an opportunity to promote dialogue and build trust between the American and Syrian peoples, noting that Syria could join the Abraham Accords in the near future.

Despite the positive atmosphere, some voices opposed to the visit emerged, most notably right-wing activist Laura Loomer, who sharply criticized President Trump, saying that “al Sharaa is still involved in sectarian violence inside Syria”.

Some lawmakers also warned against the full lifting of sanctions, fearing a resurgence of sectarian tensions, but supporters of Sharaa responded that the Syrian president committed to Washington a reform path that protects minorities and establishes comprehensive justice.

In an interview on Fox News, Sharaa confirmed his readiness to launch a direct dialogue with Israel mediated by the United States, and to open the door to American investments in energy projects and gas exploration inside Syria.

He added, “We’re in a new phase after the fall of the former regime, and Syria today isn’t a threat to anyone, but a partner in security, stability and development”.