President Donald Trump met with the Syrian president during the NATO summit in Ankara, Turkey, on July 5, 2026 [1].
The meeting signals a potential shift in U.S. foreign policy toward Damascus. By discussing the removal of sanctions, the administration may be attempting to stabilize the region through diplomatic engagement rather than isolation.
During the bilateral talks, Trump said he would consider removing Syria from the U.S. terrorism sanctions list [2]. This move would represent a significant departure from previous U.S. policy, which has long used economic and diplomatic pressure to influence the Syrian government.
Trump praised the Syrian leadership during the encounter. "He’s done a great job," Trump said [2].
Reports on the identity of the Syrian leader present a contradiction. Some reports identify the president as Bashar al-Assad, who has held power since 2000 [1]. Other reports identify the leader as Ahmed al-Sharaa, who allegedly took power in 2024 [2].
The discussions focused on U.S. policy toward Syria, and the possibility of lifting sanctions to signal support for the leadership following the country's civil war [1, 2]. The meeting took place alongside other high-level diplomatic engagements, including planned talks with the leader of Ukraine [1].
The U.S. administration has not yet provided a specific timeline for the potential removal of the sanctions. However, the openness to such a move suggests a willingness to normalize relations with the Syrian state to achieve broader strategic goals in the Middle East.
“"He’s done a great job."”
The prospect of removing Syria from the terrorism sanctions list indicates a transition toward realpolitik in the region. If the U.S. formalizes this shift, it could weaken the diplomatic leverage of Western allies who maintain stricter sanctions regimes, while potentially opening a channel for cooperation on counter-terrorism and regional security.
