In a historic turn of events, Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa, a former al-Qaeda member, made his first-ever visit to the White House on Monday, symbolizing a dramatic shift in US-Syria relations. Sharaa, who led the Islamist rebel group Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) to overthrow longtime ruler Bashar al-Assad in December 2024, is the first Syrian leader to visit Washington since Syria’s independence from France in 1946. His visit underscores Damascus’s transformation from a US-designated sponsor of terror to a potential partner in regional stability. During the meeting, President Donald Trump praised Sharaa as a “strong leader” and pledged US support to make Syria “successful.” Sharaa’s government has been working to solidify security ties with the US, reassert control over Kurdish-dominated regions, and address Israeli attacks in the south. While Sharaa has faced skepticism from Egypt and the UAE due to his past, he has strengthened ties with Saudi Arabia and Qatar. The US is reportedly considering integrating Syria into its coalition against the Islamic State (IS) and may establish an air base south of Damascus to monitor a potential de-escalation agreement between Syria and Israel. Despite these diplomatic strides, Syria’s economy remains stagnant, with corruption and lingering sanctions deterring foreign investment. Trump has lifted some sanctions and is lobbying Congress to repeal the 2019 Caesar Sanctions, but progress has been slow. Sharaa’s visit, though cautiously handled by the White House, marks a significant step in reshaping Syria’s role in the Middle East.