U.S. President Donald Trump said on Tuesday that “there is a new government in Syria that we hope will be able to achieve stability.”
Speaking at the Saudi–American Investment Forum, Trump added that Syria has experienced immense suffering, but now has a new government in place.
He noted that the United States has taken the first step toward normalising relations with Syria, announcing that U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio will meet with his Syrian counterpart, Asaad al-Shaibani, at the end of this week.
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Trump also stated that Washington will lift the economic sanctions imposed on Syria in order to offer Syrians a new opportunity.
“For the first time in decades, there will be normal relations between the United States of America and Syria,” he said.
The President delivered a message to the Syrian people, saying, “Let us see something special from you for your future.”
Earlier on Tuesday, an American official reported that President Trump will meet with the head of Syria’s transitional administration, Ahmed al-Sharaa, on Wednesday, according to Agence France-Presse (AFP).
The news outlet Axios reported that Trump agreed to greet al-Sharaa while both are in Saudi Arabia.
In response to a journalist’s question about the possibility of a meeting with al-Sharaa, Trump said, “Yes, I think so,” according to the agency.
The head of the transitional administration in Syria stated that he wishes to meet President Trump to present his vision for the country. He also expressed a strong interest in partnering with Washington on Syria’s energy sector.
Al-Sharaa added that he has no objection to an American entity managing Syria’s oil and gas fields.
