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President Donald Trump began his Gulf tour with a major announcement: the U.S. will lift long-standing sanctions on Syria, marking a dramatic shift in foreign policy. The move follows a request by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and comes after rebels led by new President Ahmed al-Sharaa toppled Bashar al-Assad in December.
Speaking in Riyadh at an investment forum, Trump also revealed a $600 billion Saudi commitment to invest in the U.S. economy and confirmed a historic $142 billion arms deal—America’s largest-ever defense agreement. The broader partnership spans defense, energy, mining, and communications and could surpass $1 trillion with future deals.
Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shibani welcomed the sanctions lift as a “new start” for the war-torn country. Trump is expected to briefly meet President Sharaa during his stop in Saudi Arabia.
The visit also included U.S. business leaders such as Elon Musk, Sam Altman, Larry Fink, and Stephen Schwarzman, highlighting strong commercial ties. Trump praised bin Salman as an “incredible man” while avoiding mention of the 2018 killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, which had strained U.S.-Saudi relations.
Trump urged Saudi Arabia to normalize ties with Israel but acknowledged internal challenges due to Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu’s opposition to a Palestinian state. The former president reiterated his hard stance on Iran, calling it the region’s “most destructive force” and warning against its nuclear ambitions. While open to negotiations, Trump promised “maximum pressure” if diplomacy fails.
Trump’s regional tour continues with stops in Qatar and the UAE, focusing on economic cooperation amid rising tensions and shifting alliances in the Middle East.
