Europe Asia News

This marks the first meeting between the leaders of the two countries since 2000, though Trump's office stated yesterday that the meeting was intended as a mere "greeting."

According to an analysis broadcast on the BBC, Trump's meeting with Ahmed al-Shara presents a significant opportunity to reinforce Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's vision for the future of the Middle East.

The collapse of the Bashar al-Assad regime in Syria would represent a major defeat for the Islamic Republic of Iran and a major opportunity for Saudi Arabia to limit Iran's influence in the Arab world.

However, simply toppling Assad is not enough to secure Saudi and Turkish footholds in Syria.

What both countries reportedly need is a stable government led by al-Shara, capable of restoring security, facilitating economic recovery, and leading the reconstruction of a country ravaged by war.

The lifting of fifty-year-old U.S. sanctions on Syria at the request of Mohammed bin Salman and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan paves the way for significant Saudi and Turkish investment in Syria.

American companies, particularly in the energy sector, are also expected to benefit from this opening.

Trump’s meeting with al-Shara would be an important step toward granting international legitimacy to a man previously vilified under the alias Abu Muhammad al-Julani due to his past ties to al-Qaeda.