Ahmad al-Sharaa, 43-year-old President of Syria. That made him the first Syrian head of state to visit the White House, a major diplomatic achievement. This visit comes shortly after a very brief encounter with U.S. President Donald Trump. Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman was the one who brokered that May meeting. At the meeting, Trump lauded al-Sharaa. He referred to him being a “young, attractive guy” with a “very strong past” and noted the surprising and unexplored diplomatic realignment over the leadership in Syria.
Al-Sharaa’s road to the White House has represented an extraordinary turnaround in his political fortunes. As it turned out, in 2011 he was captured — but quickly released. Following that, he was smuggled into Syria, where he formed an Al-Qaeda affiliate-influenced rebel army to wage war on Bashar Al Assad’s regime. His hardnosed leadership led to the surprise offensive that decisively ended Syria’s long-stalemated civil war. This audacious move upended the 53-year-old Assad family dynasty.
On the ground in Washington, al-Sharaa’s primary mission should be to lobby and educate against the imposition of sanctions on Syria. He is calling on Trump to press Israel to end its military campaign in Syria. First, he wants Israel to pull its soldiers out of the south of the country. This visit marks al-Sharaa’s 20th foreign trip since he appointed himself president in January, further underscoring his commitment to reshaping Syria’s international relations.
In advance of his visit to the White House, al-Sharaa took part in the United Nations general assembly in New York this past September. He had previously hosted Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on October 15. His recent diplomatic engagements signal a very bold strategy to that end. This strategy seeks to bolster Syria’s international legitimacy and reorient its foreign policy away from perpetual axes of conflict.
During his time in Washington, al-Sharaa was able to participate in more congenial pursuits, including playing a friendly game of basketball with senior U.S. military officials. This simple gesture speaks volumes about his commitment to developing lasting partnerships. It sheds light on his unique style of diplomacy as he tries to build relationships with other powerful leaders around the globe.
Al-Sharaa’s rise to the top has attracted much interest and much wariness from outside observers. Joshua Landis, director of the Center for Middle East Studies at the University of Oklahoma, remarked, “The U.S. is taking a large gamble on Ahmad al-Sharaa and Syria.” This sentiment reflects a broader misunderstanding of al-Sharaa’s history as a former jihadist leader. Moreover, it showcases his status today as a pariah among heads of state.
Experts see al-Sharaa’s rise as a deepening of Syrian politics. Realignment with significant implications. This move has particularly profound effects on how the country approaches great power competition. Natasha Hall, a senior associate at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), noted, “In this new era, one doesn’t align completely with any side. We saw that with (Sharaa’s) visit with Putin, who is an active ally with the Assad regime … and you see that with diplomacy on behalf of the Syrian government globally.”
Through all of this diplomacy, al-Sharaa is clear that he doesn’t want any more war. He stated, “Engaging in a conflict with Russia right now would be too costly with Syria, nor would it be in the country’s interest.” This perspective underscores his desire for stability and cooperation, even as he navigates an increasingly polarized geopolitical landscape.
