Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa met with US President Donald Trump on the second day of the NATO Summit in Ankara. The two leaders discussed the reconstruction of Syria and the transformation of bilateral relations.
Al-Sharaa: Syrian people united the country
According to Syria's official news agency SANA, al-Sharaa told Trump during the meeting: "We have achieved great success in liberating Syria, overthrowing the former regime, uniting the country and setting it on the right path. All of this was thanks to the Syrian people."
Al-Sharaa also said: "President Donald Trump's historic decision to lift sanctions on Syria, together with the assistance of friends and supporters in the region, especially Turkey and the Gulf states, has earned the appreciation and gratitude of the Syrian people."
Third meeting in 14 months
This meeting on the sidelines of the Ankara summit was the third official encounter between the two leaders in the last 14 months. The diplomatic process began in May 2025 in the Saudi capital Riyadh, under the patronage of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
The second meeting took place in November of the same year at the White House in Washington. This intense diplomatic traffic paved the way for a fundamental transformation in relations between the two countries; joint coordination began on lifting economic sanctions, reconstruction and counter-terrorism.
Summit continues in Ankara
Turkey is hosting a NATO Summit for the second time, after the 2004 Istanbul Summit. The summit, held on Tuesday and Wednesday, carries particular significance due to the challenges facing the alliance and the global security system.
Al-Sharaa arrived in Ankara early on Wednesday and attended the second-day sessions of the summit.
