U.S. President Donald Trump met with Syrian leader Ahmed al-Sharaa in Saudi Arabia before heading to Qatar on Wednesday, the White House said.

President Donald Trump’s visit to Saudi Arabia marks a significant shift in U.S. foreign policy in the Middle East.

President Donald Trump announced that the U.S. would cease sanctions against war-torn Syria “in order to give them a chance at greatness,” as he seeks to strengthen ties to Saudi Arabia and others.

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 U.S. policy shift ahead of an expected meeting with Syria's Islamist President Ahmed al-Sharaa.

The four-day trip, President Donald Trump’s first overseas tour since his reelection, is expected to focus on business deals and investments from the region.

President Donald Trump announced Tuesday the United States will drop sanctions against Syria and said he will meet with the nation’s new president, Ahmed al-Sharaa, this week. "I will be ordering the cessation of sanctions against Syria in order to give them a chance at greatness,

President Trump will meet with interim Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa on Wednesday — despite the former al Qaeda leader having a $10 million American bounty on his head until recently. “The President agreed to say hello to the Syrian President while in Saudi Arabia tomorrow,

"Massive" sanctions European leaders threatened to impose on Russia if Vladimir Putin does not agree to a ceasefire in Ukraine face formidable political obstacles and would need U.S. support to succeed,