During a trip to the Gulf countries, Donald Trump announced that he is lifting sanctions on Syria and concluded the "largest defense cooperation agreement" with Saudi Arabia, reports Reuters.
The unexpected announcement of lifting sanctions will be a huge boost for Syria, devastated by more than a decade of civil war. The United States declared Syria a state sponsor of terrorism in 1979, imposed sanctions in 2004, and extended them after the start of the civil war in 2011.
Trump said the sanctions served an important function, but now it's time for the country to move forward. Speaking in Riyadh, Trump stated that he is acting in response to the request of Saudi Arabia's de facto ruler, Prince Mohammed bin Salman, to lift the sanctions.
The US will also supply Saudi Arabia with a package of weapons worth almost $142 billion.
Trump and the Saudi crown prince signed an agreement covering energy, defense, mining, and other areas. It includes deals with more than a dozen American defense companies in areas such as air and missile defense, air force and space development, maritime security, and communications, according to a release following the meeting. The Saudi prince stated that the agreement includes investment opportunities worth $600 billion, including deals worth $300 billion signed during Trump's visit. "In the coming months, we will work on the second phase to complete the deals and bring them to $1 trillion," he said.
As the agency writes, the US president seeks to strengthen relations with the Saudis to improve regional ties with Israel and act as a bulwark against Iran.
Trump, accompanied by American business leaders, including billionaire Elon Musk, will travel from Riyadh to Qatar on Wednesday and will be in the UAE on Thursday.
He did not plan a stop in Israel, and this decision raised questions about the place of this close ally in Washington's priorities, with the main focus of the trip being on investments rather than security issues in the Middle East.
Meanwhile, Trump insists that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu agree to a new ceasefire agreement in the 19-month war in Gaza.
American and Iranian negotiators met in Oman over the weekend to discuss a potential deal to limit Tehran's nuclear program. Trump threatened military action against Iran if diplomacy fails.
Last week, Trump's envoy to the Middle East, Steve Witkoff, stated that he expects rapid progress in expanding the agreements brokered by Trump during his first term from 2017-21, under which Arab states, including the UAE, Bahrain, and Morocco, recognized Israel. Trump expressed hope that Saudi Arabia will soon sign its own agreement to normalize relations with Israel.
Nevertheless, Netanyahu's opposition to a final end to the war in Gaza or the creation of a Palestinian state makes progress in such negotiations with the Saudis unlikely, sources told Reuters.
Photo: Reuters