Washington Welcomes Syrian Foreign Minister: Beginning of a Diplomatic Shift After Decades of Estrangement

In an unprecedented move in decades, U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau announced today, Friday, that the United States has begun official communication with the new Syrian government, as part of a diplomatic shift led by President Donald Trump's administration and Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

Landau stated in a post on platform X: "For decades, the United States has not had a real relationship with Syria, but the situation is starting to change," noting that the meeting he had with special envoy Thomas Barak and Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Al-Shibani addressed sensitive files, most notably:

- The future of bilateral relations between Washington and Damascus  

- Opportunities for economic cooperation  

- Counter-terrorism  

- Syrian-Israeli relations

The meeting, which took place at the U.S. Department of State, reflects a shift in U.S. policy towards Damascus, amid international anticipation of the outcomes of this opening, especially in light of regional tensions and the challenges of reconstruction in Syria.