Syria’s President Ahmed al-Sharaa arrived in the United States on Saturday for an official visit. The trip marks a turning point in US-Syria relations. It came just a day after Washington dropped his name from its terrorism blacklist.

Sharaa, whose rebel forces ousted Bashar al-Assad last year, will meet US President Donald Trump at the White House on Monday. Analysts said it is the first visit by a Syrian president to Washington since Syria’s independence in 1946.

The two leaders first met in May during Trump’s regional tour in Riyadh.

US Plans Military Coordination in Syria

US envoy to Syria Tom Barrack said earlier this month that Sharaa might sign a deal to join the US-led coalition against the Islamic State (IS).

A diplomatic source in Damascus told AFP that the US plans to build a base near the Syrian capital. The base will help “coordinate humanitarian aid and observe developments between Syria and Israel.”

Washington Removes Sharaa from Blacklist

The US State Department’s decision to delist Sharaa was expected. Officials said Syria’s new leadership met key American demands. These include searching for missing US citizens and destroying remaining chemical weapons.

State Department spokesman Tommy Pigott said, “These actions are being taken in recognition of the progress demonstrated by the Syrian leadership after the departure of Bashar al-Assad and more than 50 years of repression under the Assad regime.”

He added that the move will support “regional security and stability as well as an inclusive, Syrian-led and Syrian-owned political process.”

Symbol of Change

Sharaa’s visit follows his September appearance at the UN General Assembly in New York. It was his first time on US soil. He became the first Syrian leader in decades to address the UN, marking a major diplomatic shift.

On Thursday, the UN Security Council, led by Washington, voted to lift sanctions against him. His former group, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), once linked to Al-Qaeda, was also removed from the US terror list in July.

Since taking power, Sharaa has tried to distance Syria from its violent past and project a moderate image to the world.

From Rebel to Diplomat

Experts call Sharaa’s journey remarkable. Michael Hanna, US Program Director at the International Crisis Group, said, “The White House visit is further testament to the US commitment to the new Syria and a hugely symbolic moment for the country’s new leader, who thus marks another step in his astonishing transformation from militant leader to global statesman.”

Sharaa is expected to seek financial help for Syria’s recovery. After 13 years of civil war, the country faces huge rebuilding challenges.

In October, the World Bank estimated that Syria’s reconstruction could cost around $216 billion.