Trump receives Al-Shara in the White House... Culmination of a pivotal Syrian year.

Arab Sea Newspaper - Special

Arab Sea - Follow-ups: The meeting between Syrian President Ahmed al-Share' and US President Donald Trump at the White House today, Monday, culminates a pivotal year for the Syrian president, who until recently was the leader of a group of militants before leading the overthrow of the autocratic president who ruled the country for a long time. Al-Share' has been making foreign visits since then as part of his efforts to end Syria's international isolation. Trump is scheduled to receive al-Share' on the first-ever visit by a Syrian president to the White House, six months after their first meeting in Saudi Arabia, and just days after Washington announced that the former leader of an al-Qaeda-affiliated organization was no longer a specially designated global terrorist. Al-Share' (42 years old) took over the reins of power in Syria last year after Islamist fighters led by him launched a lightning attack from the enclave they controlled in northwestern Syria, through which they were able, in just a few days, to overthrow the long-ruling Syrian President Bashar al-Assad on December 8. Since then, Syria's alliances have been developing at an astonishing pace away from Assad's main allies, Iran and Russia, and towards Turkey, the Gulf, and Washington. Security is likely to be at the top of the agenda for the upcoming meeting on Monday. The United States is mediating talks between Syria and Israel on a possible security agreement. Reuters reported that the United States plans to establish a military presence at an airbase in Damascus. Syria is also scheduled to join the US-led coalition to fight the Islamic State organization, and this could be officially announced at the White House meeting on Monday.