Syria's top diplomat has made a historic trip to Washington D.C., marking the first visit by a Syrian government representative in a quarter of a century.
Syrian Foreign Minister Visits Washington D.C. in Historic Trip
Syria's Foreign Minister, Asaad al-Shibani, is currently in Washington D.C. for an official visit, marking the first such visit by a top Syrian official in 25 years. The visit comes after the U.S. President, Donald Trump, met interim Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa in Saudi Arabia in May, which set Syria's new authorities on the path to end decades of international isolation.
During his visit, al-Shibani and his delegation are expected to hold talks with U.S. officials and meet Secretary of State Marco Rubio. The visit is a significant step in Syria's efforts to boost relations with the West.
The easing of sanctions imposed on Syria under Assad has been steadily occurring since the meeting between Trump and al-Sharaa in May. In June, Trump signed an executive order, ending many U.S. economic sanctions on Syria, a promise he made to al-Sharaa during their meeting.
Al-Shibani's visit to Washington is taking place as the new government in Damascus struggles to recover from the civil war. The visit is not the first for al-Shibani, who earlier this year attended meetings of the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund in Washington. He also visited New York for talks at the United Nations.
In a statement, the Syrian foreign ministry's media office described al-Shibani and the delegation's arrival as 'on an official historic visit' to Washington. Last month, al-Shibani held a direct meeting with an Israeli delegation in Paris, brokered by the U.S. as part of a diplomatic push for Syria and Israel to improve relations. The meeting between al-Shibani and the Israeli delegation was a rare direct encounter between Syrian and Israeli officials.
Al-Sharaa, the interim Syrian President, is expected to attend the U.N. General Assembly in New York next week, marking the first attendance of a Syrian head of state in decades. The visit by al-Shibani and his delegation to Washington is a testament to the progress being made in Syria's relations with the West and its neighbours.
Meanwhile, al-Shibani is currently in negotiations with Israel to try to reach a security agreement along the two countries' tense border. The visit is a significant step in Syria's efforts to rebuild and re-establish its position on the international stage.
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