Overview

• Syrian interim leader Ahmed al-Sharaa is pursuing a meeting with President Trump during his Middle East tour, though a direct meeting remains unlikely.
• Sharaa’s proposal to the U.S. includes building a Trump Tower in Damascus, offering access to Syria’s oil and gas resources, and pursuing peace with Israel.
• The U.S. maintains stringent conditions for sanctions relief, including removing foreign fighters from senior military roles, which Syria has struggled to meet.
• A high-level U.S.-Syria meeting is expected during Trump’s visit, but it will not involve Trump or Sharaa directly.
• Sharaa’s past ties to al-Qaeda and his U.S. terrorist designation complicate diplomatic efforts, with internal divisions within the Trump administration on how to proceed.