In a recent development, President Donald Trump has suggested that Syria might be on the verge of entering into several significant agreements.
These include joining an anti-ISIS coalition and the Abraham Accords. This revelation came after a meeting with the Syrian President, Ahmed al-Sharaa, on Monday.
According to Breitbart, when quizzed by reporters in the Oval Office about his meeting with Sharaa, Trump portrayed the Syrian leader as a "very strong leader" and a "tough guy." The President also expressed his administration's desire to see Syria prosper.
"He's a very strong leader, he comes from a very tough place, and he's a tough guy," Trump said. "I like him. I get along with him the President, the new President of Syria. We'll do everything we can to make Syria successful, because that's part of the Middle East."
Trump further emphasized the current peace in the Middle East, a situation he claimed was unprecedented in recent memory. He also underscored Syria's significant role in the Middle East. When asked about the possibility of Syria entering into a pact with Israel or joining the anti-ISIS coalition, Trump responded affirmatively. "Yes, you can expect some announcements on Syria," Trump said.
"We want to see Syria become a country that's very successful, and I think this leader can do it. I really do. I think this leader can do it. And, people said he's had a rough past. We all have rough pasts. But, he has had a rough past, and I think, frankly, if you didn't have a rough past you wouldn't have a chance."
These comments from Trump came after his meeting with Sharaa, the leader of the al-Qaeda offshoot Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS). Sharaa's visit was part of his broader campaign to demonstrate his commitment to transforming Syria into a "peaceful, inclusive, and trustworthy democracy."
John Hayward of Breitbart News reported that Sharaa entered the White House quietly through a side entrance on Monday and stayed for about an hour and a half. Upon his departure, he was greeted by a crowd of several hundred supporters, many waving Syrian flags. Neither the White House nor Sharaa's office issued an immediate public statement about the meeting, and no details have surfaced at press time.
The visit was of high stakes, as Sharaa, a former al-Qaeda officer and wanted terrorist, sought to convince the Western world of his ability to transition Syria into a peaceful, inclusive, and trustworthy democracy.
Several lawmakers, including Rep. Brian Mast (R-FL), Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, and Rep. Joe Wilson (R-SC), issued statements confirming their meetings with Sharaa on Sunday. "Last evening, the new Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa and I broke bread," Mast said in a press release. "We had a long and serious conversation about how to build a future for the people of Syria free of war, ISIS, and extremism."
Mast, who described himself and Sharaa as "two former soldiers and two former enemies," asked Sharaa why they were "no longer enemies." Sharaa's response was that he wishes to "liberate from the past and have a noble pursuit for his people and his country and to be a great ally to the United States of America," according to Mast's statement.
In a post on X, Wilson shared a photo with Sharaa and expressed his gratitude for the meeting. "A free, united, prosperous Syria is the biggest opportunity since the end of the Cold War," Wilson wrote in his post. "We must give Syria a chance and achieve a COMPLETE and TOTAL repeal of Caesar."
The unfolding events suggest a potential shift in Syria's global standing. If these agreements materialize, they could mark a significant step towards Syria's transformation into a peaceful, inclusive, and trustworthy democracy. The world watches with bated breath as the story continues to unfold.
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