Moments and Reactions Over Trump-Syrian President Meeting

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - United States President Donald Trump met with Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa in his visit to Saudi Arabia on Tuesday, May 14, 2025. A White House official conveyed this information on Tuesday night.

"The president agreed to say hello to the Syrian president while in Saudi Arabia tomorrow," the official said on Tuesday night, May 13, 2025, requesting anonymity as reported by Anadolu.

The meeting between the two heads of state is expected in Riyadh, where Trump arrived on Tuesday morning. This visit is part of Trump's first foreign trip since officially taking office in January 2025.

Trump's regional visit also includes a trip to Qatar and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Before departing for Saudi Arabia on Monday, Trump told reporters that he was considering lifting U.S. sanctions on Syria.

In his statement, Trump expressed his desire to give Damascus a fresh start by creating a new beginning for the country. He mentioned that several world leaders, including Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, had requested lifting the sanctions.

Trump Lifts All Sanctions on Syria

Citing Al Jazeera, during his visit to Saudi Arabia on Wednesday, May 14, 2025, President Donald Trump announced his decision to lift all sanctions on Syria. The statement was made during his meeting with the interim President of Syria, Ahmed al-Sharaa, in Riyadh. The meeting was important, marking the first direct interaction between the heads of the United States and Syria in the last 25 years.

Trump said that lifting sanctions would provide Syria with a fresh opportunity to start rebuilding and making progress. He conveyed that it is the right time for Syria to showcase its best potential to the world.

After completing his agenda in Saudi Arabia, Trump continued his diplomatic journey to Qatar and met with the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani. In the meeting, both countries agreed to strengthen their partnership in the defense and trade sectors.

The Syrian people joyfully welcomed the policy of lifting these sanctions. In several cities like Damascus and Idlib, citizens took to the streets to celebrate the decision by waving national flags and setting off fireworks. People hope this policy will bring stability and prosperity to the war-torn country and accelerate its reconstruction.

Response from the Syrian Emergency Task Force Executive

In an interview with NPR on May 14, 2025, Mouaz Moustafa, Executive Director of the Syrian Emergency Task Force, described President Trump's decision to lift sanctions on Syria as a historic moment. He assessed this step as a new beginning not only for Syria but also as a real opportunity to achieve stability and peace in the wider Middle East region, given Syria's strategic geopolitical position.

Moustafa revealed that his organization played a role in normalizing relations between Syria and the United States, including through a meeting with the interim President of Syria, Ahmed al-Sharaa. About a week and a half before the announcement of the lifting of sanctions, he led a delegation of Syrian-American citizens, including members of the Syrian Jewish community, who wanted to rebuild the world's oldest destroyed synagogue due to the Assad regime.

"And I think for me, I think Syria is the closest Arab country to a true democracy out there because of what the Syrian people have been able to do. And I think the United States, not just as a government but as a people - schools, universities, faith groups - Syria is a place that can be a democracy that can stabilize this region that's been plagued by war. I think it's all of our obligation to help them reach that goal," Moustafa explained as quoted from NPR on Saturday, May 17, 2025.

In other words, the Executive of the Syrian Emergency Task Force also emphasized that Trump's lifting of sanctions will open opportunities for Syria to rebuild its country and strengthen its relations with the international community. He hoped this step would bring tangible benefits to the Syrian people and promote stability in the long-conflicted region.

Sita Planasari contributed to the writing of this article

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