• A planned meeting between former President Trump and Syria's interim leader Ahmed al-Sharaa at the UNGA signals a dramatic thaw in US-Syria relations.
  • The US is preparing to lift all sanctions on Syria, a move that could unlock vital economic aid and foreign investment for the war-ravaged nation.
  • The policy shift, urged by regional powers, aims to spur Syrian reconstruction and encourage a realignment away from Iran and toward normalization with Israel.

Plans are underway for a high-stakes meeting between former President Donald Trump and Syria’s interim leader, Ahmed al-Sharaa, on the sidelines of the upcoming United Nations General Assembly, according to people familiar with the matter. The encounter, which follows a recent meeting between the two in Saudi Arabia, marks a stunning reversal in US policy toward Damascus following the ouster of Bashar al-Assad and the end of the civil war late last year.

Central to the new US approach is a commitment to lift all sanctions on Syria, a move long advocated by Saudi Arabia and Turkey to facilitate the country's reconstruction. The Syrian economy has collapsed to less than half of its pre-war size, with the UN reporting that 90% of its population now lives in poverty. The anticipated sanctions relief is expected to catalyze a flood of foreign investment, particularly into Syria's decimated energy and infrastructure sectors. Syrian officials have already begun inviting American companies to invest in oil and gas projects, according to sources.

In return for the economic lifeline, the US is urging al-Sharaa’s government to pursue a path of normalization with Israel, including potentially joining the Abraham Accords, and to distance itself from Iran. Trump has also pressed the interim leader to address terrorism concerns, expel foreign fighters and Palestinian militants, and manage former Islamic State detention facilities. Al-Sharaa has reportedly expressed openness to these conditions and highlighted Syria’s new post-Iran alignment, while also reaffirming the country's commitment to its 1974 disengagement agreement with Israel.

The rapid US pivot is a stark departure from the maximum-pressure strategies of previous administrations and is being watched closely as one of the most consequential diplomatic developments in post-war Middle Eastern politics. While the UN Secretary-General and other international leaders have voiced cautious optimism, Israeli opposition persists, and experts warn that without sustained international engagement and credible reforms, there is a risk of old patterns returning. The US and UN also face pressure to balance swift economic relief with accountability for past human rights abuses.