Trump Praises Syrian President Ahmad al-Shara Following Landmark Meeting in Riyadh
By Kardo Roj
RIYADH, Saudi Arabia (North Press) – U.S. President Donald Trump praised Syrian President Ahmad al-Shar’ on Wednesday after a high-profile meeting in Riyadh, calling him “a strong and impressive leader” and indicating openness to deeper engagement with Syria’s transitional government.
The remarks came shortly after Trump departed Saudi Arabia, where he attended the U.S.-Saudi Investment Forum and met with several regional leaders. His encounter with al-Shar’ marks the first formal meeting between American and Syrian heads of state in a quarter-century.
“President Shar’ is great,” Trump said in a recorded video released after the meeting. “I think he’s very good, a strong and attractive young man with a powerful past—very powerful. He’s a fighter.”
The meeting between Trump and al-Shar’ in Riyadh has raised considerable attention across diplomatic circles, signaling what may be the early stages of U.S.-Syria rapprochement. The encounter comes amid Trump’s stated intention to lift or ease sanctions on Syria, pending conditions related to regional stability and governance reforms.
Al-Shar’, who assumed leadership of Syria’s transitional government earlier this year, is viewed by some Western observers as a pragmatic figure seeking to shift Syria’s posture toward diplomacy and reconstruction after more than a decade of war.
Trump’s characterization of al-Shar’ as a “unifier” adds to mounting speculation that Washington may be recalibrating its policy toward Damascus, particularly as regional players such as Saudi Arabia and Turkiye signal growing interest in Syrian stabilization.
Trump mentioned in the video that he had also spoken with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, saying both leaders see potential for al-Shar’ to “do a good job.” The comment reflects ongoing trilateral discussions among Washington, Ankara, and Riyadh over Syria’s future, particularly concerning border security, the return of displaced persons, and counterterrorism efforts.
While no formal agreements were signed during the Riyadh meeting, insiders suggest the conversation touched on economic reconstruction, humanitarian access, and the prospect of Syria participating in regional normalization efforts—including potential engagement with Israel, as hinted in earlier reports.
The Role of Northeast Syria
The evolving U.S.-Syria dynamic also comes at a time when the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES), backed by the U.S.-partnered Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), continues to maintain relative stability and security across northeastern regions. Despite the central government’s limited reach in these areas, the SDF’s ongoing efforts against Islamic State (ISIS) remnants have earned international recognition and sustained cooperation with the U.S. military presence in the region.
Observers note that any future shift in U.S.-Syrian relations will inevitably intersect with the reality on the ground in northeast Syria, where the AANES has established functioning institutions and local governance structures.
Analysts argue that the SDF’s counterterrorism role and the AANES’s administration could serve as a model or at least a reference point in future political arrangements, particularly as Syria grapples with post-conflict rebuilding and decentralization debates.