U.S. President Donald Trump met with Syria’s interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa in Riyadh on Wednesday, marking a dramatic diplomatic shift in Washington’s approach to Syria just one day after announcing the lifting of longstanding U.S. sanctions. The White House confirmed the unprecedented encounter, which included Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan joining via video conference.

The meeting, held ahead of Trump’s scheduled summit with Gulf Arab leaders, underscores the U.S. administration’s efforts to reshape alliances in the Middle East following the collapse of Bashar al-Assad’s regime earlier this year. Al-Sharaa, once a battlefield adversary of U.S. forces during the Iraq War, now leads a coalition of rebel factions that seized control of Damascus after more than a decade of civil war.

The talks came shortly after Trump’s unexpected announcement on Tuesday that the U.S. would lift sanctions imposed in 2011 in response to Assad’s violent suppression of dissent. “This is a new government that will hopefully succeed in stabilizing the country and keeping peace,” Trump said, framing the move as a step toward reconstruction and regional stability.

While the White House has not yet disclosed specifics from the meeting, the engagement signals a stark departure from past U.S. policy. Al-Sharaa, formerly known as Abu Mohammed al-Golani, was once linked to al-Qaeda’s operations in Iraq but has since rebranded his faction, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, as a nationalist force. Regional powers, including Saudi Arabia and Turkey, have cautiously supported his leadership as a pragmatic alternative to continued chaos or Iranian-backed influence.

Trump’s outreach follows intense lobbying from key allies, particularly Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Erdoğan, who have played pivotal roles in shaping Syria’s post-Assad political landscape. Turkey’s state news agency reported that Erdoğan, a vocal supporter of Syria’s opposition, encouraged the U.S. to engage with al-Sharaa’s government.

Analysts suggest the move aligns with broader U.S. objectives, including countering Iran’s influence, creating opportunities for American businesses in Syria’s reconstruction, and reducing Washington’s military footprint in the region. Iraq and several Arab states have cautiously welcomed the sanctions relief, viewing it as a potential step toward stability.

Further details on the meeting’s outcomes are expected after Trump attends the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) summit, where Syria’s future and regional coordination will be key topics. The diplomatic gambit represents a high-stakes bet that engagement with al-Sharaa’s government—despite its controversial origins—could help secure a lasting peace.

For now, the encounter between Trump and a former adversary marks one of the most unexpected turns in Syria’s turbulent decade-long conflict.