Trump urges Sharaa to normalize ties with Israel day after pledging to lift Syria sanctions

CAIRO – 14 May 2025: US President Donald Trump urged Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa to normalize relations with Israel, according to White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt, as both leaders met in Riyadh on Wednesday.

The meeting, held ahead of a summit between the United States and Gulf Arab countries, comes a day after Trump surprisingly announced lifting all sanctions on the Islamist-led government.

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman organized the meeting and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan joined virtually.

Trump shook hands with Sharaa during their Riyadh meeting and said that Washington is exploring the possibility of normalising relations with Damascus.

During the meeting, Trump also urged Sharaa to deport "Palestinian terrorists," help the US to prevent the resurgence of the Islamic State (IS), and assume responsibility for IS detention centers in northeast Syria, said Leavitt.

Sharaa affirmed Syria's commitment to the Agreement on Disengagement between Israel and Syria in 1974.

The Syrian president expressed aspiration for his country to effectively streamline east-west trade and invited US companies to invest in Syrian oil and gas.

Trump arrived in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday as part of a three-leg Gulf tour that also includes Qatar and the United Arab Emirates.

During his Riyadh visit, Trump secured a $600 billion commitment from Saudi Arabia to invest in the US.

Trump’s Syria sanctions relief brushes aside Israeli objection of such move.

The US president said the Saudi crown prince and the Turkish president encouraged him to take this action.