VIDEO: Trump to lift US sanctions on Syria in major policy shift

President Donald Trump said on Tuesday he would order the lifting of sanctions on Syria at the behest of Saudi Arabia's crown prince, a major US policy shift ahead of an expected meeting with Syria's President Ahmed Al-Sharaa.

Trump is set to say hello to Sharaa on Wednesday in Saudi Arabia, a White House official said, setting up an encounter between the president and the former Al Qaeda commander who took power after Bashar Al-Assad was toppled. Two Syrian presidential sources told Reuters that they would meet on Wednesday morning.

"I will be ordering the cessation of sanctions against Syria in order to give them a chance at greatness," Trump told an investment forum in Riyadh, at the start of a tour of Gulf Arab states. "It's their time to shine. We're taking them all off," Trump said, "Good luck Syria, show us something very special."

Trump said he had made the decision after discussions with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman and Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan, whose governments have both strongly urged the lifting of sanctions.

The surprise move was announced despite deep Israeli suspicion of Sharaa's administration. Israeli officials have continued describe Sharaa as a jihadist, though he severed ties with al Qaeda in 2016.

Trump said he would remove all sanctions, saying they had served an important function, but it was now time for Syria to move forward. He said steps were being taken to restore normal relations with Syria, and that US Secretary of State Marco Rubio would meet his Syrian counterpart this week.

The U.S. sanctions, imposed when Assad was in power, have cut Syria off from the global financial system and deterred foreign investment and trade, hampering efforts to rebuild from the war.

Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Al-Shibani, in a statement to Reuters, said it marked a turning point for the Syrian people in their efforts to rebuild.

"We ... stand ready to foster a relationship with the United States that is rooted in mutual respect, trust and shared interests," Shibani said.

He also said Trump could get a "historic peace deal and victory for US interests in Syria," without elaborating. 

Reuters