Segun Atanda/
Syrian leader, Ahmed al-Sharaa, once the target of a $10 million United States bounty for terrorism, has made a dramatic entry into Washington as an official guest of the White House, completing one of the most striking political turnarounds in recent history.
Al-Sharaa, who previously led the Islamist faction Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), an organisation once designated a terrorist group by the US and its allies, met President Donald Trump in Washington on Monday.
The visit marks the first by a Syrian head of state in nearly eight decades and symbolises a new phase in relations between Damascus and Washington.
The White House confirmed that talks focused on regional security, Syria’s reconstruction, counter-terrorism cooperation, and the phased lifting of certain US sanctions imposed during the civil war.
A joint statement described the engagement as “the beginning of a cautious but constructive dialogue.”
The meeting follows a series of diplomatic overtures after HTS-led forces took control of Damascus late last year, ending the rule of Bashar al-Assad.
In the months that followed, the US suspended the reward for al-Sharaa’s capture and opened communication channels with the new Syrian leadership.
A brief video released by Syrian state media, and later confirmed by US officials, showed al-Sharaa playing a light-hearted basketball game with American military personnel during the visit, a gesture widely viewed as symbolic of his rebranding from militant commander to reform-minded leader.
Officials familiar with the talks said the US administration views al-Sharaa as a “pragmatic partner” capable of stabilising Syria after years of conflict, provided he upholds commitments to fight terrorism, protect minorities, and allow humanitarian access.
However, human rights organisations have criticised the outreach, warning that rehabilitating a former jihadi leader could undermine accountability for past atrocities.
Some US lawmakers and European diplomats have also expressed unease about what they describe as an “untested gamble” that could backfire if al-Sharaa consolidates authoritarian control.
In Damascus, al-Sharaa has formed a transitional government dominated by former HTS allies and pledged to hold general elections by mid-2025.
His administration has also initiated talks with international agencies on post-war reconstruction and the return of displaced Syrians.
Analysts say Washington’s engagement reflects a realpolitik shift in Middle East diplomacy, as the US seeks new partnerships to contain instability and curb Iranian and Russian influence in the region.
For now, Ahmed al-Sharaa’s handshake with President Trump, once an unthinkable image, underscores a geopolitical reality where yesterday’s enemy may yet become today’s indispensable ally.
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