President Trump said on Tuesday that he would lift sanctions on Syria, a day before he was expected to meet for the first time with President Ahmed al-Shara of Syria, who led the rebel alliance that ousted the dictator Bashar al-Assad, in December.
“There is a new government that will hopefully succeed in stabilizing the country and keeping peace,” Mr. Trump said, adding that he made the decision after speaking with Turkey’s president, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, and Saudi Arabia’s crown prince, Mohammed bin Salman.
“I will be ordering the cessation of sanctions on Syria,” he said. “Oh what I do for the crown prince.”
Mr. Trump planned to meet Mr. al-Shara during his visit to Saudi Arabia, according to a White House official and a regional official with knowledge of Mr. Trump’s plans. A White House official said Mr. Trump agreed to “say hello” to the Syrian president while in the Gulf kingdom, according to the press pool traveling with the U.S. president.
Jonathan Swan is a White House reporter for The Times, covering the administration of Donald J. Trump.
Ben Hubbard is the Istanbul bureau chief, covering Turkey and the surrounding region.
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