In a stunning diplomatic development, US President Donald Trump met with interim Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa, a former jihadist once known as Abu Mohammed al-Jolani, for tea in Riyadh on Wednesday.

The meeting, described by Syria as “historic,” marked the first between US and Syrian presidents in 25 years and came six months after al-Sharaa led a campaign that toppled the Assad regime, ending half a century of rule.

Al-Sharaa, previously the head of al Qaeda’s Syrian affiliate, Al Nusra Front, was listed as a US Specially Designated Global Terrorist in 2013, with a $10 million bounty on his head.

The Saudi-born former militant, who fought US forces in Iraq before leading an Islamist rebellion in Syria, orchestrated the ousting of Bashar al-Assad, ejecting Iran-backed groups and declaring himself Syria’s leader.

Photos released by the White House and Saudi foreign ministry showed both leaders smiling, signaling a remarkable shift in US-Syrian relations.

The Syrian foreign ministry stated that Trump pledged to “stand by Syria at this critical juncture” during the meeting, which occurred during Trump’s Middle East tour, the first state visits of his second term.

On Tuesday, Trump announced the removal of decades-long US sanctions on Syria, a move that drew a 40-second standing ovation from an audience that included Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

“Oh, what I do for the Crown Prince,” Trump quipped, crediting the Saudi leader for championing the effort to lift what he called “brutal and crippling” sanctions.

Syria has been designated a State Sponsor of Terrorism by the US since 1979, with its economy battered by Western sanctions, notably the 2019 Caesar Act.

The act, which targeted entities aiding Assad’s war efforts, rendered Syria’s economy untouchable, shrinking it by over 50% between 2010 and 2020, according to the World Bank.

By 2022, 69% of Syrians lived in poverty, with more than one in four in extreme poverty—a situation likely worsened by a 2023 earthquake.

The lifting of sanctions is expected to unlock billions in Gulf investments, as countries like Saudi Arabia and Turkey, wary of violating US restrictions, now see a path to engage with Syria’s economy.

“The fact that [Trump] did it so publicly and from Riyadh is a tacit approval for those looking to invest,” said Natasha Hall of the Center for Strategic and International Studies.

The announcement sparked celebrations across Syria, with fireworks lighting up major cities and billboards thanking Trump and Prince Mohammed.

The Syrian lira surged 27% against the US dollar, and Mohammad Nidal al-Shaar, Syria’s economy and trade minister, wept on Saudi outlet Al Arabiya, declaring the country was “entering a new phase.”

“I don’t know how life would be without sanctions,” said Ranim Sakhal, a Syrian born in the 1970s.

“The country has been suffocating. Our dream is for Arab countries to help, something we haven’t seen for years because of Bashar’s rivalry with Arab leaders.”

During the meeting, Trump proposed that al-Sharaa normalize relations with Israel, expel foreign and Palestinian “terrorists,” and assist in preventing an ISIS resurgence, according to the White House.

The move aligns with broader US goals to counter Iran’s influence and stabilize the region while offering Syria’s fledgling regime a lifeline.

Al-Sharaa, who last year told CNN that Syria’s armed opposition aims to form a government “defined by institutions and a council chosen by the people,” now faces the challenge of balancing domestic expectations with international demands.

The sanctions’ removal also positions Gulf states and Turkey to expand their influence in Syria, potentially profiting after decades of exclusion.

The meeting and sanctions relief signal a pragmatic US approach to Syria’s new leadership, despite al-Sharaa’s controversial past. For Syrians, the prospect of economic recovery and regional reintegration offers hope after years of isolation.

As Sakhal put it, “People are optimistic.” Whether this marks a lasting turning point for Syria remains to be seen, but for now, the country is stepping out of the shadows.