Syria's president to address UN General Assembly in historic September visit

Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa is scheduled to visit New York this September to address the United Nations General Assembly, marking the first appearance by a Syrian head of state at the UN since 1967.

The planned address follows a groundbreaking meeting in May between al-Sharaa and US President Donald Trump in Riyadh, Caliber.Az reports, citing Arab media.

That summit, facilitated by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, was the first direct engagement between US and Syrian leaders in more than 25 years and is being viewed as a turning point in Syria’s international reintegration.

Ahead of the meeting, Trump made a surprise announcement lifting all US sanctions on Syria, a move that reportedly caught even his top advisers off guard. The sanctions had been imposed in response to the Assad regime’s human rights violations during the civil war and had crippled Syria’s economy for over a decade.

Al-Sharaa hailed the decision as a "historic and courageous" act, saying it would “alleviate the suffering of the people, contribute to their rebirth, and lay the foundations for stability in the region.”

Saudi Arabia’s diplomatic maneuvering was crucial in bringing the two sides together. The kingdom positioned the meeting within its broader efforts to reshape Middle East alliances, including promoting normalization of ties with Israel. During the summit, Trump reportedly encouraged al-Sharaa to follow the path of the Abraham Accords and consider establishing diplomatic ties with Israel.

Al-Sharaa reportedly expressed cautious openness to the idea, contingent upon the removal of foreign military forces from Syrian territory and the expulsion of armed Palestinian factions.

Al-Sharaa’s upcoming speech at the UN is expected to signal Syria’s intent to rejoin the international community. However, US officials have emphasized that future cooperation depends on Syria meeting specific conditions, including progress on counterterrorism and removal of foreign and non-state actors from governance.

By Vafa Guliyeva