“I will be ordering the cessation of sanctions against Syria in order to give them a chance at greatness,” said Trump at an investment forum in Riyadh
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In a significant diplomatic shift, US President Donald Trump on Tuesday announced that he would order the lifting of sanctions on Syria after a request from Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
Trump made the unexpected announcement while on a three-nation tour that began in Saudi Arabia. He will also be traveling to United Arab Emirates and Qatar. It is the first major foreign trip of his second term.
The move marks a major boost for Syria’s interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa as he attempts to bring stability to a nation devastated by over a decade of conflict.
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“I will be ordering the cessation of sanctions against Syria in order to give them a chance at greatness,” Reuters quoted Trump as saying at an investment forum in Riyadh.
“It’s their time to shine. We’re taking them all off,” Trump said, “Good luck Syria, show us something very special.”
The White House confirmed that the US president would “say hello” to Sharaa during the visit, suggesting a face-to-face meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, reported Reuters.
Sharaa, a former al Qaeda commander who