From jihadist to statesman: Trump welcomes Syria's new president to the White House

WashingtonSyrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa has once again achieved an unprecedented milestone for Syrians and in his own personal history. After leading the jihadist group that overthrew the regime of Bashar al-Assad, al-Sharaa became the first Syrian president to visit the White House since the country's independence from France in 1946. Despite the exceptional nature of this achievement, the former militant was not greeted with the customary handshake and greetings before entering the building. The meeting with US President Donald Trump marks a turning point for the Arab nation and for alliances in the Middle East. The fall of the Assads meant the loss of a key ally for Iran, and now Washington seeks to redraw the regional balance of power with a strategic rapprochement with Damascus. Washington's objective is to foster eventual cooperation between the new Syrian government and Israel.

The Syrian president is seeking to finalize relations with the United States after Trump announced in May, during his tour of the Arab petro-monarchies, his intention to lift sanctions imposed on the Assad regime. The meeting follows months of low-profile negotiations in which the Syrian leader aims to secure a relationship with Washington to strengthen recognition of his government and obtain US support for the reconstruction of Syria, ravaged by more than 10 years of civil war. The World Bank estimates the cost of rebuilding the country would be $216 billion.

AThe Sahara meets with Trump amid tensions following the Israeli invasion of southern Syria: Israel already occupied the Golan Heights and after the fall of Al Asad attacked Israeli arsenals and deepened its control over its territory. The clashes escalated in July when attacks between Islamist and Druze factions culminated in an Israeli bombing of the Defense Ministry in Damascus. This action effectively ended the talks that had been taking place between the two countries. Washington now hopes to unblock the negotiations and build a bridge of cooperation between the Arab country and Israel. Arab countries will support Trump's plan in GazaGetting Damascus to become a partner of Israel would be a success in line with Trump's strategy since his first term, starting with the Abraham Accords, to integrate the country into the region. Not to mention that Washington would gain a second ally in a strategic area, and it would make Damascus's estrangement from the ayatollahs almost irreversible.

Al-Sharaa traveled to Washington after Syria was removed from the United Nations sanctions list last week. On Friday, the State Department also announced that Al-Sharaa—formerly known by his guerrilla name, Abu Mohamed al-Julani—and Syrian Interior Minister Anas Khattab would be removed from the global terrorist list as a "recognition of the progress demonstrated by the Syrian government since its departure."