Syrian President Arrives in Turkey for Meeting with Trump

Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa arrived in Ankara, Turkey, on August 8 for a meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump. The meeting is scheduled to take place on the sidelines of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) summit, hosted by Turkey. Al-Sharaa's visit was at the invitation of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Al-Sharaa, who previously led the al-Qaeda organization, came to power in December 2024 after overthrowing Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad. Trump has characterized the new Syrian leader as "tough." He told reporters on July 7 that, thanks to Erdogan, the U.S. has established a very good relationship with Syria's new leadership. Trump praised al-Sharaa's performance over the past year and a half, stating that he has successfully united the country. "I have a very good relationship with him... Some people say he's tough... President Erdogan and I both recognize him, and we really wanted him to be the president of Syria. He's doing a good job, holding the country together. It's not easy," Trump said.

Syria faces immense challenges following a 13-year civil war, with the nation in dire need of international support for reconstruction. The country also continues to grapple with numerous threats. Al-Sharaa visited Washington in November 2025 to seek financial aid from the United States.

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I have a very good relationship with him... Some people say he's tough... President Erdogan and I both recognize him, and we really wanted him to be the president of Syria. He's doing a good job, holding the country together. It's not easy.