President Trump met on Wednesday with the new president of Syria, Ahmed Al-Sharara, a day after he announced that the United States would increase sanctions against the country in a major shift in American policy. It was the first time in 25 years that the leaders of the two countries had met, and another sign that decades of diplomatic isolation for Syria ended.
But then Mr. Trump arrived in Qatar on the second stop of a Blitse Tour in the Middle East who emphasized business deals And emphasized his political and commercial interests in the rich Gulf states, bloodshed was a short distance in Gaza intensification, part of the region that he largely bypassed during this trip.
Israeli air strikes at night killed dozens of Palestinians in northern Gaza, said Palestinian health officials on Wednesday, and the escalating violence has the efforts of the Trump government to have Israel and Hamas agree with a new cessation-the-fire.
Speaking with reporters on the plane from Saudi Aarabia to Qatar, Mr. Trump said that his Tour, who also includes a stop in the United Arab Emirates, does not go aside. “This is good for Israel, with a relationship like I have with these countries; Middle East, essentially all,” he said.
Earlier Wednesday in Riyad, the Saudi capital, Mr. Trump spoke to Mr. Trump with Mr. Al-Shara, which he later called ‘big’ and a ‘tough guy’. The meeting was a stunning turnaround for Mr. Al-Shara, who once led a branch of Al Qaeda before he broke ties with the Jihadist group and tried to moderate his image. The United States have referred to the militant group of Mr Al-Sharara as a terrorist organization, and it dropped its offer of a reward of a maximum of $ 10 million for information about him, only five months ago.
Since the rebellion alliance of Mr Al-Sharar President Bashar al-Assad driven out in December, his administration has tried to remove persistent international sanctions on Syria to break the economic strangulation on a country that is central to the stability of the Middle East. Mr. Trump’s announcement that the United States would lift a standing ovation against Syria on Tuesday evening from dignitaries in Riyad, including representatives of the middle states who had called such a movement.
This is to know what else:
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US and Syria: Mr. Trump met Mr Al-Sharara at the invitation of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, de facto ruler of Saudi Arabia, who also participated in the meeting. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey, who supported the anti-assad uprising, accompanied by telephone. Mr. Trump told the Syrian leader that he “has a great opportunity to do something historically in his country,” according to A summary of the White House of the meeting. Mr Trump also insisted on the Syrian leader to take steps to normalize and tell relations with Israel “all foreign terrorists to leave Syria,” said the summary.
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World Cup connection: Gianni Infantino, the president of the administrative body of football, FIFA, and a Trump supporter, comes to the president during his middle -on tour. On Wednesday he plans to do that chair a ceremony On which the Emir of Qatar, the last World Cup -Gastland, will give tasks in hand for the four -yearly tournament to Mr Trump. The United States is organizing the World Cup 2026 with Canada and Mexico, but the leaders of those countries are not expected to be part of the ceremony.
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Friendly neighborhood: Mr. Trump Built personal relationships With Gulf leaders during his first term, they offer strong support without criticizing their human rights reports. He has a special relationship with Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed, the president of the Vae, and with crown prince Mohammed bin Salman, the actual ruler of Saudi -Arabia.
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Lush reception: Mr. Trump attended events in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday that were heavy on wealth and splendor. The president appeared Happy and impressed.
Euan Ward contributed reporting.
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