The United States special envoy for Beirut, Tom Barrack, announced that Syria will play an active role in combating terrorism in the Middle East.
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The announcement comes three days after US President Donald Trump welcomed Syria’s interim president, Ahmed Al Sharaa, a former terrorist who was detained by US forces in Iraq in 2005 because of his links to Al Qaeda, to the White House.
The trip to Washington marked the first visit by a Syrian head of state to the White House since the country gained independence from France in 1946.
At a press conference at the White House, Trump praised the Syrian president, whom he received behind closed doors, and said he had full confidence in his leadership. “He is a strong man (…) We want Syria to be a successful country, and he can achieve that,” said the Republican.
Shortly after the official visit, the US-led coalition fighting the Islamic State announced Syria’s membership. According to the special envoy, the country will play a significant role in combating Iran’s Revolutionary Guard, Hamas and Hezbollah.
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and Lebanon’s Hezbollah were important supporters of dictator Bashar al-Assad before he was deposed in December last year by a rebel coalition led by Sharaa.
The Syrian leader’s visit is an important step in the normalization of relations with Washington. The visit came after the Trump administration lifted sanctions imposed on Syria decades ago. Sharaa seeks the definitive repeal of restrictions that still affect foreign investment and the country’s reconstruction.
The White House’s gesture in welcoming the foreign leader also symbolizes an important change in American policy towards Syria after years of sanctions and diplomatic isolation, marking the beginning of a new stage in relations between the two countries, with a potential impact on the stability of the Middle East and international efforts against terrorism.
