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WASHINGTON DC - Syrian interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa is scheduled to arrive in Washington on Monday to meet with United States President Donald Trump, marking the first visit by a Syrian leader to the White House since the country gained its independence in 1946.
Analysts believe that Washington is interested in a stable Syria, particularly under a leader who, at least for now, appears willing to engage with the US.
"President Trump met with al-Sharaa in Riyadh at the behest of Mohammed bin Salman, the crown prince of Saudi Arabia. And so, Trump, I think, wanted to do Mohammed bin Salman a favor… there was the issue of unity of Syria in the heart of the Middle East," Gregory Aftandilian, an expert on Middle East politics and US foreign policy, told Rudaw.
"So, if Syria could be stable under strong leadership, that would presumably help US strategic interests in at least calming that area down. And then obviously he said in Riyadh he was going to lift sanctions. He did lift most US sanctions, but Congress still has to lift some of them that remain. On the other hand, there is concern, especially in Congress, over the treatment of minority rights in Syria,” he added.
The rights of minorities - Kurds, Druze, Christians, Alawites - is a concern for many members of Congress. Lawmakers insist that any easing of sanctions or renewed engagement with Syria must be tied to clear guarantees on human rights and political freedoms.
If sanctions are to be lifted, “there have to be strict conditions that civil liberties and individual lives be preserved and protected, and that Syria is committed to impact peace and police, particularly with not only its Arab neighbors, but also with Israel," said Senator Richard Blumenthal.
The US on Friday announced it was lifting sanctions on Sharaa and Syrian Interior Minister Anas Khattab a day after the United Nations Security Council did the same thing.
“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,” the State Department said in a statement.
“This new Syrian government, led by President al-Sharaa, is working hard to [locate] missing Americans, fulfill its commitments on countering terrorism and narcotics, eliminating any remnants of chemical weapons, and promoting regional security and stability as well as an inclusive, Syrian-led and Syrian-owned political process,” it added.
During his historical visit to the White House, Sharaa is expected to join the international coalition against the Islamic State (ISIS) while also opening the door to a potential agreement with Israel.
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