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Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa arrived in the United States on Saturday, ahead of a historic meeting with his US counterpart, Donald Trump.<\/p>\n
This marks the first time a Syrian president has visited the White House in at least 80 years.<\/p>\n list of 3 items<\/span>end of list<\/span><\/section>\n The meeting is of particular importance considering the US\u2019s power in removing sanctions, something Syria badly needs to kick-start its economy.<\/p>\n What will be on the agenda when the two leaders meet? Read on to find out.<\/p>\n For Syria, it is likely about making moves to finally repeal the Caesar Act, a series of sanctions the US applied to Syria in 2019, during the rule of former President Bashar al-Assad, who was overthrown by a lightning offensive led by al-Sharaa in December last year.<\/p>\n While the Trump administration gave an executive order to lift sanctions on Syria, the US Congress has to vote to repeal the Caesar Act.<\/p>\n US sanctions on Syria date as far back as the late 1970s, though more were applied in 2004 and again in 2011.<\/p>\n Republican Congressman Brian Mast, who has previously compared Palestinian civilians to Nazis, was reportedly an obstacle to the Caesar Act\u2019s repeal.<\/p>\n However, Mast reportedly met with the 43-year-old al-Sharaa in the early hours of Monday morning and had a \u201cpositive and constructive\u201d meeting, Syrian journalist Fared al-Mahlool reported on his Instagram account.<\/p>\n Removing all the sanctions on Syria means the country can return to the global financial system, making investments and business smoother.<\/p>\n It will also help it rebuild its devastated healthcare system and infrastructure damaged during the 13-year civil war that broke out after Syria\u2019s 2011 revolution and the al-Assad government\u2019s heavy-handed response to it.<\/p>\n Al-Sharaa is reportedly also seeking funds for Syrian reconstruction after the war.<\/p>\n Many neighbourhoods were turned to dust and continue to sit in piles of rubble. The World Bank estimates the battered country needs at least $216bn to rebuild.<\/p>\n For the US, the trip has a different significance.<\/p>\n Washington has high hopes it will convince Damascus to join its coalition against the armed group ISIL (ISIS).<\/p>\n The coalition is made up of 89 countries from across the world, and includes over a dozen Arab states.<\/p>\n Syria\u2019s joining the coalition will further signal its regional integration under the new administration led by al-Sharaa.<\/p>\nRecommended Stories <\/h2>\n
What is this trip about for Syria?<\/h2>\n
What about the US?<\/h2>\n