Syria’s Foreign Minister Visits Washington in First High-Level Trip in Over Two Decades

Syria’s Foreign Minister, Asaad al-Shibani, arrived in Washington on Thursday, marking the first official visit of such senior rank in over 25 years. The visit signals a shift in U.S. policy towards Damascus, as Washington begins to ease sanctions and mediate between Syria’s new Islamist-led government and Israel.

According to Axios, Senator Lindsey Graham confirmed that al-Shibani is expected to meet with U.S. lawmakers to discuss the potential removal of the remaining American sanctions on Syria. Reuters also verified the visit through two sources familiar with the matter.

The trip comes amid a broader shake-up in U.S. diplomatic strategy concerning Syria. Several American officials previously focused on Syrian affairs have been abruptly dismissed, reflecting Washington’s new direction. This includes efforts to integrate the Kurdish factions, long-time U.S. allies, into the central government led by President Ahmed al-Sharaa.

In addition to internal shifts, the United States has also been acting as a mediator between Syria and Israel. President Sharaa, who plans to attend the United Nations General Assembly in New York next week, indicated that talks on a potential security agreement with Israel could lead to tangible progress “in the coming days.”

Washington had imposed sweeping sanctions on Syria in 2011 in response to former President Bashar al-Assad’s violent crackdown on anti-government protests, which sparked a nearly 14-year-long civil conflict. Assad, a close ally of both Iran and Russia, was eventually overthrown by Sharaa’s forces in a swift campaign last December.

Since Sharaa’s rise to power, relations between Washington and Damascus have begun to thaw. U.S. President Donald Trump announced in May, following a meeting with Sharaa, that he intended to begin lifting sanctions, paving the way for renewed diplomatic engagement.