Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa held talks with US secretary of state Marco Rubio in New York on Monday, marking a significant step in Syria’s reintegration with the West after decades of isolation. The meeting took place on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), where al-Sharaa will become the first Syrian leader to address the forum in nearly six decades.According to the news agency AP, the last time a Syrian head of state attended the UNGA was in 1967, before the Assad family’s half-century rule. Bashar al-Assad was ousted in December following a lightning insurgent offensive, ending nearly 14 years of civil war.Rubio confirmed the meeting in a post on X, writing, “I met with Syrian President al-Sharaa about our shared goals for a stable and sovereign Syria and ongoing efforts to bring security and prosperity to all Syrians. We also discussed implementing President Trump’s historic announcement on sanctions relief and the importance of Israel-Syria relations.”The state department said Rubio “underscored this opportunity for Syria to build a stable and sovereign nation following President Donald Trump’s historic announcement earlier this year on sanctions relief for the Syrian people”. The two also discussed counterterrorism, the search for missing Americans, and Israel-Syria relations.Al-Sharaa, once a leader of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), a group previously designated by the US as a terrorist organisation, has worked to reset ties with Arab states and the West. Trump’s administration removed the HTS designation and eased sanctions to support Syria’s return as a regional player.However, al-Sharaa expressed doubts about Syria joining the Abraham Accords. At the Concordia Annual Summit in New York, he said, “There’s a big difference between Syria and those members in the Abraham Accords. Syria is different… Syria, as a neighbour has been subjected to over 1,000 raids, strikes and Israeli incursions.” He added that current talks with Israel were aimed at reviving the 1974 truce line.Al-Sharaa praised Trump for taking what he called a “bold decision” to ease sanctions, urging Washington to lift remaining restrictions. “The Syrian people should not be killed another time through the sanctions… Lift the sanctions, and don’t worry about them,” he said at the forum, in conversation with retired US General David Petraeus, as per AP.Meanwhile, discussions are underway between Syria, the US and Israel on a potential security arrangement, which could be finalised this week.Al-Sharaa also met senior Democrats Senator Jeanne Shaheen and Representative Gregory Meeks in New York, where Shaheen highlighted her push for Congress to pass legislation lifting further penalties still in place.For the first time in 60 years, Syria has also allowed international fact-finding teams into the country. Al-Sharaa said accountability measures will follow and added, “The Syrian state will work on accountability against those found guilty, even if they were the closest people to us.”
