Latest news with #SyrianPresident
Al Bawaba
6 hours ago
- General
- Al Bawaba
Al-Sharaa to be first Syrian president to hold speech at UN in 60 years
NEWS Published June 3rd, 2025 - 10:42 GMT Syrian interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa poses upon his arrival for a meeting with French president at the Elysee presidential palace in Paris on May 7, 2025. (Photo by Ludovic MARIN / AFP) ALBAWABA - Syrian Interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa will be visiting the United States in September, Syrian media confirmed. Also Read IS Syria threatens Ahmed al-Sharaa over Trump meeting A source told Syrian Television that President al-Sharaa's upcoming visit to the US includes a series of events, such as a speech at the United Nations (UN), the first by a Syrian president in 60 years. © 2000 - 2025 Al Bawaba (
Asharq Al-Awsat
3 days ago
- Business
- Asharq Al-Awsat
Saudi Foreign Minister Arrives in Damascus
Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah arrived in Damascus on an official visit to Syria, accompanied by a high-level economic delegation. The economic delegation comprises Royal Court Advisor Mohammed bin Mazyad Al-Tuwaijri, Vice Minister of Finance Abdulmuhsen bin Saad Alkhalaf, Assistant Minister of Investment Dr. Abdullah Aldubaikhi, Deputy Foreign Minister for Economic and Development Affairs Abdullah bin Zarah, as well as several officials from various sectors, SPA reported. The foreign minister is scheduled to meet with Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa. The high-level economic delegation will hold a consultation session with their Syrian counterparts to discuss avenues for joint action aimed at supporting the Syrian economy, strengthening government institutions, and achieving the aspirations of the Syrian people.
Arab News
3 days ago
- General
- Arab News
Syrian president to make first official visit to Kuwait
CAIRO: Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa will make his first official visit to Kuwait on Sunday accompanied by an official delegation. 'Syrian President Ahmad Al-Sharaa, accompanied by an official delegation, is due to arrive in Kuwait on Sunday,' read a statement on KUNA News Agency. Earlier this month, sources close to Al-Sharaa have reported that the Syrian president was planning a trip to the gulf state towards the end of May. On his gulf tour, Al-Sharaa had visited Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates. On his trip to Kuwait, the Syrian president will meet the Kuwaiti leadership to discuss ways to boost bilateral relations.
The Independent
16-05-2025
- Business
- The Independent
Trump live: Trump says he wants US to ‘take' Gaza and turn it into ‘freedom zone' as he visits the UAE
Donald Trump has said he wants the United States to 'take' Gaza and turn it into a 'freedom zone' while speaking at a business event in Qatar. The president has also warned that the U.S. could be forced to take a 'violent course' with Iran if the friendly course of action does not work. Speaking during his three-nation tour of the Middle East, the president said Iran has to make a decision as the two countries continue to negotiate the potential lifting of American sanctions if Iran abandons its nuclear development program. 'The non-friendly is a violent course and I don't want that… They have to get moving. They have to make that decision,' he said. Meanwhile, Trump praised the Syrian president as a 'young, attractive guy' after the first meeting between the nations' leaders in 25 years — a meeting which followed his surprise announcement that the U.S. would lift all sanctions on the country. On the last leg of his tour, Trump is in the United Arab Emirates for talks on artificial intelligence. Pinned Our live coverage has ended. Here's a full breakdown: Trump arrived in the UAE on Thursday, where he visited the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque and took part in a state visit with President Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan at the Qasr Al Watan palace. That came after Trump said that he doesn't expect to see any progress in negotiations between Russia and Ukraine to end the war until he meets with Russian President Vladimir Putin. 'Nothing is going to happen until Putin and I get together,' Trump said to reporters on Air Force One. The UAE presidential palace, which Trump visited, is a huge complex surrounded by palm trees, gardens, and fountains. Trump and the UAE president greeted delegations in a decorated hall with marble floors and chandeliers. Trump then moved on to take in a space exhibition alongside Steve Witkoff, Howard Lutnick, Pete Hegseth, and other U.S. officials. Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan sat down with Trump on Thursday afternoon Eastern time. 'Mr. President, for over 50 years, the UAE and the United States have shared a multi-dimensional strategic partnership and a long-standing friendship grounded in a shared commitment to advancing prosperity and stability in our countries, the region, and the world,' he said. 'Over the decades, the UAE has been a trusted partner of the United States, both in terms of bilateral relations and in matters of shared concern.' 'What a lot of people don't know, I think my staff is very surprised by it, you and I have been friends for a long time,' said Trump. 'We've been good friends, and what they don't know about you is that you are considered a truly great warrior.' Trump concluded his remarks by inviting the UAE president to the White House. 'Let me have one month of fixing up the Oval Office, in other words, getting things ready,' said Trump. 'And I look forward to having you and the White House, we will celebrate together, but we are going to be your friend, and we're going to be your partner, and we really appreciate your confidence and an investment that's your biggest investment that you've ever made.' Following Trump's remarks, the UAE president awarded Trump the Order of Zayed, the highest civil decoration in the country. As he signed a guestbook, Trump said he was 'probably' heading back to Washington, D.C. on Friday. But he also said it could be a case of 'destination unknown.' Later in the evening, Trump attended a banquet dinner. Gustaf Kilander15 May 2025 19:05 Trump marvels at wealth of his Arab hosts while he eyes White House and Air Force One upgrades Donald Trump is the most powerful and famous person on the planet, at the helm of the biggest economy and the strongest military. But on his trip to the Middle East this week, the American president is sounding more than a little envious of his Arab hosts. He admired the marble in the Qatari palace as 'perfecto' and 'very hard to buy.' He praised the 'gleaming marvels' of the skyline in Saudi Arabia. And he groused about the 'much smaller' and 'much less impressive' plane that is Air Force One. Chris Megerian and Zeke Miller report: Trump marvels at wealth of his Arab hosts while he eyes White House and Air Force One upgrades Donald Trump is the most powerful and famous person on the planet, and the American president is at the helm of the biggest economy and the strongest military Gustaf Kilander14 May 2025 19:40 Trump administration ends protections for Afghans in US by citing tourism under Taliban rule Donald Trump 's administration is pointing to an increase in tourism under Taliban -controlled Afghanistan to justify the cancellation of humanitarian protections for more than 11,000 Afghans in the United States. On Monday, the administration announced plans to strip temporary legal status to roughly 11,700 Afghans who fled the country following the U.S. withdrawal in 2021, which led to the evacuation of tens of thousands of people in the wake of the devastating years-long war. DHS cites increasing tourism under Taliban for canceling protections for Afghans Homeland Security is ending temporary legal status for more than 11,000 Afghans Gustaf Kilander14 May 2025 20:00 Marjorie Taylor Greene joins calls for Derek Chauvin to be pardoned Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene has called on President Donald Trump to issue a federal pardon to Derek Chauvin, the Minneapolis police officer convicted over the killing of George Floyd on May 25, 2020. 'I strongly support Derek Chauvin being pardoned and released from prison,' the MAGA congresswoman posted on X on Wednesday, adding her voice to a growing MAGA push for his release. 'George Floyd died of a drug overdose.' Marjorie Taylor Greene joins calls for Derek Chauvin to be pardoned Georgia Republican calls for release of former Minneapolis police officer convicted over the May 2020 killing of George Floyd, which led to mass demonstrations across the U.S. and around the world Gustaf Kilander14 May 2025 20:20 'He's playing a trick': Sceptical Ukraine tries to beat Putin at his own game in peace talks With only a few hours to go until the start of what was slated as the first direct peace talks between Russia and Ukraine in years - talks that Vladimir Putin himself called - it still wasn't clear if the Russian president would actually show up. For weeks he has dismissed Ukraine 's proposal for a 30-day unconditional ceasefire - backed by the US and Europe - to allow both sides to start negotiations on how to end Europe's biggest war since World War Two. Instead, the Russian leader challenged Volodymyr Zelensky to direct talks in Istanbul 'without any preconditions' on Thursday. If they go ahead, it would be the first meeting between the leaders since December 2019. After brief initial reticence - and a few goading social media posts by Donald Trump - the Ukrainian leader called Moscow's bluff by confirming that he will indeed attend in person. 'He's playing a trick': Sceptical Ukraine tries to beat Putin at his own game 'Putin is not strong in direct negotiations. He's strong in playing games,' a senior Ukrainian source tells chief international correspondent Bel Trew Trump says 'non-friendly' course for Iran is 'violent' During the remarks at the state dinner, Trump made some comments regarding Iran. 'The non-friendly is a violent course and I don't want that… They have to get moving. They have to make that decision. It's their decision,' said the president. Trump has previously said he wants a deal with Iran to stop it from getting a nuclear weapon. He appealed to Qatar for help. 'I hope you can help me with the Iran situation,' he said. 'It's a perilous situation, and we want to do the right thing. We want to do ... something that's going to save maybe millions of lives. Because things like that get started, and they get out of control. I've seen it over and over again. They go to war, and things get out of control, and we're not going to let that happen.' The Emir spoke about making massive investments in the U.S., he mentioned Qatar's trade deficit, and said the country likes 'drill baby drill,' a phrase Trump has used as a campaign slogan. 'Our newly announced projects and investments will amount to $1.2 trillion, and these days, I'm so grateful for the trade deficit we have with you, because the surplus swings in your favor. That's also why Scott Bessent is chill,' he said. 'I prayed for your recovery and your safety,' the Emir said regarding the assassination attempt against Trump last summer. He also requested that Trump use American 'leverage' to end the fighting in Gaza. He commended Trump for picking staff who are 'loyal to your country and loyal to your cause.' 'For all of us in the room, this stop was no mystery,' he said. 'Yes, the United States is a superpower, boasting the largest economy and military force in history. Meanwhile, Qatar is one of the smallest countries with one of the smallest populations, and as the Americans in the room know, D.C. is almost 7000 miles away from here, but my friends, small nations have their own superpowers, resilience, nimbleness — and we are a powerful agent for peace precisely because of our size.' 'This is a home. This is a serious home,' Trump said of the palace. 'It's just a perfect evening,' he added. 'Your country now stands as a hub [of] global commerce, acts as a key diplomatic force on the world stage, and has even hosted the World Cup. People said, Oh, the World Cup,' Trump said. 'He's coming to the United States. Great job you do Gianni,' the president said of the FIFA president. Gustaf Kilander14 May 2025 20:41 Our live coverage has ended. Here's a full breakdown: 'He's a hero': Syrians praise Trump after removal of decades-old sanctions regime Trump was already popular among many Syrians for his decision to launch military strikes against Assad during his first term in the White House — and last night they celebrated him again Gustaf Kilander14 May 2025 20:50 WATCH: Trump welcomed by parade of red Cybertrucks and camels during Qatar visit 14 May 2025 21:00 'He's a hero': Syrians praise Trump after removal of decades-old sanctions regime Donald Trump may be facing historically low approval levels at home, but in Syria at least, his popularity is surging. Celebrations broke out in Damascus and other towns across Syria on Tuesday after Trump announced that he would remove decades-old U.S. sanctions on the country. With a stroke of his pen, the president delivered a lifeline to a country decimated by years of war, opening the long-isolated economy to the global market. Trump was already popular among many Syrians for his decision to launch military strikes against Assad during his first term in the White House — and last night they celebrated him again Richard Hall14 May 2025 21:20 Donald Trump praises 'young, attractive' ex-terrorist Syrian leader Ahmed al-Sharaa Donald Trump shook hands with Syria's Islamist ruler on Wednesday – the first encounter between the two nations' leaders in 25 years and a potential turning point for Damascus as it struggles to emerge from decades of international isolation. The US president warmly greeted former al-Qaeda fighter Ahmed al-Sharaa in a historic meeting unthinkable only a few months ago.
Arab News
14-05-2025
- Politics
- Arab News
The significance of Iraqi divisions over Al-Sharaa
Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani last week said that the upcoming Arab League Summit in Baghdad 'comes within a transformative context.' He believes the present moment represents 'a convergence of the Iraqi national will and the broader Arab hope to overcome differences and embark on the establishment of an effective and comprehensive Arab cooperation system,' as he wrote in an article published in Asharq Al-Awsat. This article coincided with intense discussions among political leaders in Baghdad following the official invitation extended by Culture Minister Ahmed Al-Badrani to Syrian President Ahmed Al-Sharaa to attend the summit in Baghdad on Saturday. Al-Sudani views this summit as 'a historic opportunity to renew the project of Arab joint action, regain initiative and establish the Arab world as an effective power rather than a battleground for conflict.' This 'Arab joint action' cannot be realized without reconciliation among neighboring countries, particularly Iraq and Syria. This approach was directly pursued by Al-Sudani shortly after the fall of previous Syrian President Bashar Assad's regime last December. The Iraqi PM believes that the country's geographical position and size necessitate the maintenance of a positive relationship with the new Syria, regardless of the historical context of the current leaders in Damascus. However, this perspective is opposed by his allies in the Coordination Framework, prompting parties such as the Islamic Dawa Party and Asa'ib Ahl Al-Haq, along with armed factions like Kata'ib Hezbollah, to publicly reject the prospect of Al-Sharaa visiting Iraq. There were intense discussions among political leaders following the official invitation extended to Al-Sharaa Hassan Al-Mustafa This clear opposition to Al-Sudani's stance from key allies such as Nouri Al-Maliki and Qais Al-Khazali was contradicted by Ammar Al-Hakim, the leader of the National Wisdom Movement. He spoke about the invitation to Al-Sharaa at the Seen Dialogue Forum last month, asserting that 'it is in Iraq's national interest to engage and communicate' with the new government in Syria. Al-Hakim's perspective was based on Iraq's regional role, as he believes that it 'is a significant and pivotal country' and therefore 'should play a role in major issues within the region.' This particularly relates to the situation in Syria, due to its geographical proximity and shared land borders, as well as concerns over the rise of violence and terrorism. Additionally, he emphasized Iraq's capacity to undertake diplomatic efforts that could alleviate tensions between Iran and Syria, fostering communication between the two nations to prevent the escalation of sectarian rhetoric, which Al-Hakim views as a threat to the entire region. Consequently, he advocated for a positive, trust-building engagement between Baghdad and Damascus, rather than a severance of relations. This pragmatic political perspective ensured he adopted an emotionally reserved stance regarding the meeting between Al-Sudani and Al-Sharaa in Doha last month. This meeting surprised Al-Sudani's allies in the Coordination Framework. However, Al-Hakim viewed it as a 'government decision' and asserted that 'the principle of relations with Syria is managed by the government, which is responsible for making such decisions.' He emphasized that 'the failure to inform the forces of the Coordination Framework about this meeting does not imply ignoring it,' stressing that 'we must engage with Syria, as it is beneficial for Iraq.' According to a report released by the Amwaj Media website on April 17, political sources acquainted with the discussions indicated that 'the two leaders engaged in extensive dialogues regarding regional security, border management and counterterrorism efforts — shared challenges that persist in undermining stability in areas adjacent to the Iraqi-Syrian border.' In addition to their strong discontent with Al-Sudani for not informing them about his meeting with Al-Sharaa in Qatar, there was another factor that prompted the leaders of the Coordination Framework to actively oppose the Syrian president's invitation. This relates to the Iraqi parliamentary elections scheduled for Nov. 11, which the Coordination Framework is unlikely to contest under a unified list. Instead, it is expected to enter four different lists, which may later unite based on the vote each receives. Al-Sudani's positions aligned with those of influential Arab countries in the region, such as Saudi Arabia Hassan Al-Mustafa Their stance reflects a divergence in viewpoints and specific party positions, prompting these political forces to seek to sway the public in their favor electorally by presenting stringent stances that claim to express concern and anxiety for Iraq's security and stability. Thus, they brandished their opposition to the prospect of Al-Sharaa visiting. Despite all this, Al-Sudani was determined to uphold the invitation to Al-Sharaa, stating in a television interview that his presence at the summit was crucial for clarifying his vision for a new Syria. He emphasized that 'most Arab countries are keen to see Syria overcome its decades-long ordeal,' stressing that Iraq would 'spare no effort in supporting Syria and respecting its choices.' Al-Sudani's positions aligned with those of influential Arab countries in the region, such as Saudi Arabia, which is working to support the transitional political process in Syria. This process aims to serve the interests and security of the Syrian people and ensure that Syrian territory does not become an arena for terrorist groups or a conduit for drugs and arms smuggling. Riyadh is also concerned about Syria's territorial integrity and Israeli violations. On Tuesday, the Syrian president's office announced that Al-Sharaa would not be attending the Baghdad summit. The Syrian delegation will instead be headed by Foreign Minister Asaad Al-Shaibani. Nevertheless, it is evident that the improved relations between Baghdad and Damascus, along with the resolution of previous conflicts, will be advantageous for both countries and will help reduce regional tensions.
