Who would have imagined this a year ago?
Syria, long isolated on the world stage, has now joined the global coalition against the Islamic State (IS) group.
The announcement came during a historic White House visit by Syrian leader Ahmed al Sharaa.
He is the first Syrian president to set foot in Washington since the country’s independence in 1946.
Sharaa, whose forces toppled Bashar al Assad last year, had only days earlier been removed from the US terrorism list.
His group, Hayat Tahrir al Sham (HTS), was once linked to Al Qaeda.
Now, as the coalition’s 90th member, Syria has pledged to help eliminate IS remnants and curb the flow of foreign fighters.
President Trump welcomed Sharaa warmly, calling him “a very strong leader…from a very tough place.”
He expressed hope for a “stable and successful Syria” after years of civil war.
Syria’s Diplomatic Role
Trump emphasized that Syria could play a “big part” in a broader Middle East peace plan, including maintaining fragile ceasefires in Gaza.
Sharaa, once carrying a $10 million US bounty, acknowledged ongoing tensions with Israel over the Golan Heights.
He suggested that Washington-facilitated talks could open doors.
Dramatic scenes followed the meeting as he stepped out of his motorcade to greet cheering supporters outside the White House.
From a wanted fugitive to an international partner, Sharaa’s journey raises the question.
In global politics, can yesterday’s adversaries really become today’s allies?
Sometimes, the past doesn’t define the future — it just shapes how fast it can change.
