(NewsNation) — President Donald Trump met with Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa, a onetime insurgent with ties to al-Qaeda who was imprisoned by U.S. troops for several years, in the first such meeting between the two nations’ leaders in 25 years.
The nearly hourlong meeting came after Trump announced in Saudi Arabia that the United States would lift all sanctions against Syria.
I am “ordering the cessation of sanctions against Syria to give them a fresh start,” Trump told the Gulf Cooperation Council after his meeting. “It gives them a chance for greatness. The sanctions were really crippling, very powerful.”
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Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan joined by phone and commended Trump for lifting the sanctions on Syria. Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman called Trump’s decision “courageous.”
The U.S. government has held sanctions against Syria — a designated “State Sponsor of Terrorism” since 1979 — in some form for decades, according to the Department of State.
Trump heads to Qatar amid reported Boeing deal
Qatar Airways is reportedly set to announce the purchase of at least 150 Boeing aircraft, the latest deal in Trump’s blitz of business dealings. The agreement could be worth more than $100 billion, a source told NewsNation.
Boeing told NewsNation it wouldn’t confirm the deal, and Qatar Airways did not respond to a request for comment on the announcement. A White House official told NewsNation they would not get ahead of any announcements from the president.
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Qatari sources told NewsNation on Tuesday the goal for their stop on Trump’s Middle East trip is $200 billion in business deals.
Ethical concerns have arisen after the country offered Trump a free Air Force One replacement — a Boeing 747 worth $400 million.
“I would never be one to turn down that kind of an offer,” Trump told reporters Monday. “I could be a stupid person and say, ‘No, we don’t want a free, very expensive airplane.’”
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Trump’s Middle East schedule
In Doha on Wednesday, Trump is expected to participate in a state visit, followed by a state dinner.
Trump visited Saudi Arabia on Tuesday, where he attended an investment forum alongside some of the world’s top business leaders and secured $600 billion in investments from Saudi Arabia.
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He is scheduled to visit the United Arab Emirates later this week and has floated the idea of stepping away from planned stops to visit Turkey as it hosts Ukraine-Russia talks on Thursday.
NewsNation partner The Hill, Anna Kutz and the Associated Press contributed to this report.
