Syrian Interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa arrived in Washington, D.C., yesterday, Sunday, on an official visit. He is set to meet U.S. President Donald Trump this evening, Monday. The visit is considered exceptional, as al-Sharaa carries with him a range of critical dossiers for discussion, most notably the “Caesar Act” sanctions imposed on Syria, Syria’s potential accession to the international coalition against ISIS, relations with Israel and a possible security agreement with it, and the impact of all these on Syria’s field and political realities.
Upon his arrival in the U.S. capital, al-Sharaa met with representatives of Syrian organizations in Washington, in the presence of Foreign Minister of the Interim Government Asaad al-Shaibani. During the meeting, al-Sharaa stated that “the sanctions imposed on Syria are in their final stages, and we must continue to work toward lifting them.” Al-Shaibani added that “there will be no sanctions on Syria next year, which will be a year of development,” indicating that lifting sanctions will be one of the main topics on the table during the meeting with Trump.
Joining the International Coalition
However, Syria’s accession to the international coalition to combat ISIS remains the top item on the meeting’s agenda, according to U.S. envoy to Syria Thomas Barrack, who confirmed this prior to al-Sharaa’s visit. Al-Sharaa is expected to sign the accession, after the United States spent recent weeks overcoming legal and political obstacles to this step, as revealed by Al-Majalla magazine last week. The magazine stated that “Washington has studied the options for a continued U.S. military presence in Syria from geographical and logistical standpoints, as well as issues of training and military empowerment of the Syrian government, to support it in its partnership with the international coalition.” It added that “the United States seeks through this to achieve shared political and military objectives, including reducing regional tensions, eliminating ISIS, ensuring Syria does not revert to its previous alliances with the Eastern bloc, and preventing Iran from renewing its interference in the region in ways that threaten the interests of Washington and its allies.”
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The March 10 Agreement
Sources close to the Syrian Interim Government told +963 that the implementation of the March 10 agreement, signed between the government and the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) to integrate the latter into the Syrian army, will also be one of the central issues in the Trump–Al-Sharaa meeting. Washington aims to see this integration realized as part of broader efforts to combat terrorism and to spare Syria further military escalation.
Syrian-American researcher Marah Bukai, based in Washington, stated that this unprecedented and exceptional meeting in modern Syrian history between U.S. President Donald Trump and Syrian Interim President Ahmad Al-Sharaa will have a negotiating tone. “Trump has a specific vision for the Middle East and Syria,” she said, “based on a unified, stable, and secure country that combats terrorism and drug trafficking and moves toward peace with its neighbors. This will evolve into a roadmap once the agreements are signed during the meeting, marking a qualitative shift in Syria’s future orientation internationally, as this is the first time it will have a strong and direct relationship with the United States.”
Bukai told +963 that “it is expected that Syria will officially join the international coalition against terrorism during this meeting, which is a positive step for both Syria and the United States. Trump is also likely to use this opportunity to promote the integration of the Syrian Democratic Forces into the Syrian army, as these forces are U.S.-trained and equipped with everything needed for counterterrorism operations. Their extensive experience in this field makes the integration beneficial to all parties, as it will strengthen the army with a capable, well-trained, and well-equipped force, which is precisely what is needed now.”
Strengthening Syria’s International Role
For his part, Yasser Suleiman, Yasser Suleiman, a member of the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria negotiating committee with the interim government, explained that “Al-Sharaa’s visit to the United States is a natural step, given that Syria seeks to regain its geopolitical importance. The Syrian president is looking for alliances that will strengthen Syria’s regional and international role and help lift the sanctions as a prelude to the state-building process he announced upon assuming power, emphasizing the shift from a revolutionary mindset to a state-building one.”
Suleiman told +963 that “this transition and reconstruction process require accelerating the implementation of the national agreement signed on March 10, which stipulates military, security, institutional, and administrative integration between the Syrian government and the Syrian Democratic Forces, as well as all institutions in North and East Syria.”
Researcher Marah Bukai believes that “the integration between the Syrian Democratic Forces and the Syrian army will inevitably lead to political integration as well, which will preserve the unity of the country.” Suleiman added, “We in North and East Syria are an inseparable part of Syria, and any step that contributes to lifting sanctions and strengthening state-building will positively affect us and accelerate the integration process.”
Amid all the complex files in Syria following the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime, from reconstruction and economic recovery to military restructuring, the issue of “protecting minorities” remains central in any talks between the interim government and international actors. Fox News reported Sunday that the Trump administration has a rare opportunity to safeguard the Christian presence in Syria. The U.S. president may discuss with al-Sharaa steps to protect this presence and promote a comprehensive plan to rebuild Syria under a decentralized system granting greater powers to local regions with religious minorities, ensuring their protection and stability.
The Washington Institute for Near East Policy stated last Friday that the Trump administration should act cautiously regarding the idea of removing Syria from the list of state sponsors of terrorism and should obtain written guarantees from Damascus. It stressed the importance of balancing the opportunity to help Damascus succeed while maintaining leverage and accountability mechanisms should it fail to meet its commitments.
The Institute added that Syrian Interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa’s visit to Washington could mark a turning point in relations between the two countries. The U.S. administration is likely to consider removing Syria from the blacklist as part of a broader agreement for Damascus to join the international coalition against ISIS. However, it warned against hasty removal and called for a careful assessment of Damascus’s performance in counterterrorism efforts, particularly regarding the integration of foreign fighters and the management of detention centers holding ISIS members in northeastern Syria.
