President Donald Trump announced major policy changes during his Middle Eastern tour as he met with regional leaders in Saudi Arabia.

According to Daily Mail, Trump declared the termination of all U.S. sanctions against Syria during a speech at the Saudi-U.S. Investment Forum in Riyadh, emphasizing his desire to give the war-torn nation "a chance at greatness."

The decision comes as Syria transitions under its new leader, Ahmed al-Sharaa, who assumed the presidency in January following the fall of the Assad regime in December. Al-Sharaa, despite his controversial past as a former al-Qaeda member, has been advocating for improved relations with Western nations and expressed interest in strengthening ties with the United States.

Saudi Arabia's influence on Syrian diplomacy

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman played a crucial role in facilitating this diplomatic breakthrough. The Saudi leader, commonly known as MBS, had been actively pressing Trump on the sanctions issue, highlighting the region's shifting diplomatic landscape.

Trump acknowledged the Crown Prince's involvement during his announcement at the forum. The U.S. president emphasized that both Saudi Arabia and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan had been instrumental in pushing for the sanctions relief.

Trump shared the following statement during the forum:

I will be ordering the cessation of sanctions against Syria in order to give them a chance at greatness. Now is their time to shine.

Diplomatic developments with Syrian leadership

The White House confirmed that Trump will meet with Syria's President al-Sharaa on Wednesday. This marks a significant diplomatic milestone, as no U.S. and Syrian leaders have met since 2000.

Al-Sharaa, who was born in Riyadh to a Syrian Sunni Muslim family, has proposed several initiatives to improve U.S.-Syria relations. These include the potential construction of a Trump Tower in Damascus and offering the U.S. access to Syrian oil resources.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio is scheduled to meet with his Syrian counterpart in Turkey this week, further advancing diplomatic discussions between the two nations.

Strategic implications of sanctions removal

The lifting of sanctions represents a major shift from previous U.S. policy toward Syria. The sanctions had been maintained against the Assad regime until its collapse in December.

Al-Sharaa's background adds complexity to the diplomatic situation. Despite renouncing jihadism against Western nations, he remains on a U.S.-designated terror list due to his past al-Qaeda affiliations. The Syrian president has also indicated support for détente with Israel, signaling potential regional stability improvements. This development aligns with broader Middle Eastern peace initiatives.

Moving forward with renewed diplomacy

The decision to lift sanctions against Syria marks a significant turning point in U.S. Middle Eastern policy under Trump's administration. The president announced this major policy shift during his three-country Middle Eastern tour, specifically at the Saudi-U.S. Investment Forum in Riyadh.

The diplomatic breakthrough was influenced by regional leaders, particularly Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Turkish President Erdogan. Syria's new leadership under President Ahmed al-Sharaa, who replaced the Assad regime in January, has shown willingness to improve relations with Western nations despite his controversial past as a former al-Qaeda member.