Historic policy shift on Syria comes alongside largest-ever US defense agreement as Gulf tour focuses on investment and regional influence
President Donald Trump launched his Gulf tour with two major announcements on Tuesday that could reshape Middle East dynamics: the lifting of long-standing US sanctions on Syria and the securing of a massive $600 billion investment commitment from Saudi Arabia.
Speaking at an investment forum in Riyadh, Trump revealed that the United States will end sanctions that have isolated Syria economically for decades, a decision he made at the request of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
“Oh what I do for the crown prince,” Trump remarked with characteristic candor, drawing laughter from the audience. The president acknowledged that while the sanctions had served an important function, “it was now time for the country to move forward.”
This dramatic policy reversal represents a significant diplomatic shift. The US had designated Syria as a state sponsor of terrorism in 1979, implemented additional sanctions in 2004, and imposed further restrictions after civil war erupted in 2011. The decision delivers a substantial boost to a nation devastated by more than a decade of conflict that culminated in the toppling of President Bashar al-Assad last December by rebels led by current President Ahmed al-Sharaa.
Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shibani quickly responded on social media platform X, describing the planned sanctions removal as a “new start” in Syria’s path to reconstruction. A White House official confirmed that Trump has agreed to briefly meet with President Sharaa in Saudi Arabia on Wednesday, marking an unprecedented direct engagement with Syria’s new leadership.
Alongside the Syria announcement, Trump and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman signed a comprehensive agreement covering energy, defense, mining, and other sectors. The deal includes a nearly $142 billion arms package that the White House described as the largest “defense cooperation agreement” in US history. The Saudi prince suggested the total package could eventually reach $1 trillion when additional agreements are finalized in coming months.
The defense arrangement encompasses partnerships with more than a dozen US defense contractors across multiple domains including air and missile defense, space capabilities, maritime security, and communications. Sources indicate that discussions have included the potential sale of advanced Lockheed F-35 fighter jets, though it remains unclear whether these aircraft are included in the current agreement.
During his appearance, Trump praised bin Salman as an “incredible man” and expressed mutual admiration: “I really believe we like each other a lot.” Notably absent from Trump’s remarks was any mention of the 2018 murder of US-based Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi by Saudi agents in Istanbul—an incident that US intelligence concluded was approved by bin Salman, though the Saudi government has denied involvement.
Several prominent American business leaders attended the Riyadh forum, including Tesla CEO Elon Musk, who is leading Trump’s government-downsizing initiative in Washington; OpenAI CEO Sam Altman; BlackRock CEO Larry Fink; and Blackstone CEO Stephen Schwarzman. Trump was seen engaging with key Saudi officials while viewing models of the kingdom’s ambitious multi-billion-dollar development projects that form part of Crown Prince Mohammed’s Vision 2030 economic diversification program.
Trump’s Gulf tour will continue with visits to Qatar on Wednesday and the United Arab Emirates on Thursday, with a focus primarily on investment rather than security matters. Notably absent from the president’s itinerary is a stop in Israel, raising questions about the close ally’s standing in Washington’s priorities as Trump continues to press Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to agree to a new ceasefire in the protracted Gaza conflict.
Regarding Saudi-Israeli relations, Trump expressed his “fervent hope” that the kingdom would soon normalize ties with Israel, following other Arab states that established formal relations during his first term (2017-2021). However, he acknowledged Saudi Arabia’s right to proceed “in your own time,” with sources indicating that Netanyahu’s opposition to Palestinian statehood makes near-term progress unlikely.
The president also addressed regional tensions with Iran, describing it as “the most destructive force” in the Middle East while warning that the US would never permit Iran to obtain nuclear weapons. Trump indicated willingness to negotiate with Tehran but cautioned that rejection of his “olive branch” would result in “massive maximum pressure” from the United States.
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