President al-Sharaa at White House: Syria no longer threat, eyes investment, cooperation

President Ahmed al-Sharaa of Syria affirmed that his recent visit to the White House and meeting with US President Donald Trump marked a new beginning in strategic relations between the two nations. Speaking to Fox News, al-Sharaa emphasized that Syria no longer poses a security threat to Washington, positioning itself instead as a geopolitical ally.

“For the past sixty years, Syria has been isolated from the rest of the world, with relations severed between Damascus and Washington. This is the first time a Syrian president has visited the White House since the establishment of Syria in the 1940s,” al-Sharaa said.

Highlighting Syria’s post-conflict trajectory, he added: “After the fall of the former regime, Syria entered a new era, particularly in its relationship with the US. During my meeting with Trump, we discussed both the present and the future, including investment opportunities in Syria. The goal is for Syria to no longer be seen as a security threat but as a geopolitical ally and a country where the US can invest significantly, especially in gas extraction.”

On the issue of sanctions, al-Sharaa noted, “We also discussed lifting sanctions during the meeting with Trump, and there was a decision of the United Nations Security Council to lift sanctions on myself and other people.”

Turning to Syria’s role in the fight against ISIS, the president stressed the country’s sacrifices and the need for coordination with US forces.

Al-Sharaa stated that Syria had fought many battles against ISIS over the past ten years and had endured great suffering, losing a significant number of men, and he emphasized that while there were reasons for the US military presence in Syria, such a presence must now be coordinated with the Syrian government and that discussions were needed to reach an agreement regarding ISIS.

Addressing Syria’s potential participation in the Abraham Accords with Israel, al-Sharaa highlighted the country’s unique geopolitical situation. “Syria has borders with Israel, which has occupied the Golan Heights since 1967. Maybe the US administration can help us reach a security agreement with Israel or return to the 1974 accord,” he explained.

On transitional justice and accountability for past crimes, including those associated with Bashar al-Assad, al-Sharaa noted that international perspectives differ. He stated that Russia held a different view regarding the extradition of wanted individuals to Syria, but emphasized that justice must take its course and added that a transitional justice committee had been formed to ensure accountability for all perpetrators, including Assad.

Al-Sharaa also addressed the fate of missing persons in Syria, including American journalist Austin Tice, who disappeared in 2012. He stated that there were more than 250,000 missing persons in Syria due to the war and that their whereabouts were unknown. He added that he had met Tice’s mother, a remarkable woman who had also met his own mother. He explained that his mother had endured a similar ordeal, believing him dead for seven years, yet had held onto hope despite everyone around her saying he was likely gone.

“I asked my mother to share her story with Tice’s mother, to show how deeply I understand her pain. She is a strong woman, and I will do everything possible to provide sufficient information about her son, for her, for all American citizens, and for everyone missing over the past years,” al-Sharaa said.

By Vafa Guliyeva