Trump to meet Syria’s al-Sharaa at NATO summit in Turkey
QAMISHLI, Syria (North Press) – The White House on Sunday announced U.S. President Donald Trump is set to meet Syrian Transitional President Ahmad al-Sharaa on the sidelines of the NATO summit in Turkey on Wednesday.
White House Deputy Press Secretary Anna Kelly said Trump will hold separate bilateral meetings with Syria’s al-Sharaa and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy during the summit in Ankara.
The meeting with al-Sharaa comes amid continued U.S. engagement with Syria following renewed diplomatic contacts between the two countries. It also follows recent speculation that Syria could become involved militarily in neighboring Lebanon, where fighting between Israel and Hezbollah continues.
However, al-Sharaa dismissed the possibility of Syrian military involvement in Lebanon. In June, he said Damascus was focused on strengthening economic cooperation with Beirut rather than pursuing military engagement.
Al-Sharaa said at the time that he is “looking for economic channels between Lebanon and Syria, not military ones.”
Trump hosted the Syrian president at the White House last year, marking a significant step in efforts to restore ties between Washington and Damascus after years of strained relations.
Moreover, the White House said Trump will also meet Ukraine’s Zelenskyy to discuss efforts to end the war in Ukraine. A senior U.S. official said Trump is expected to speak with Russian President Vladimir Putin following the meeting as part of ongoing diplomatic efforts to reach a negotiated settlement.