Trump's Middle East Diplomacy: Shifting Sands and New Alliances

In a diplomatic move that could reshape Middle Eastern alliances, U.S. President Donald Trump met with Syria's leader in Saudi Arabia to advocate for normalized relations between Syria and Israel. This surprising development follows the United States' decision to lift sanctions on Syria.

The meeting, attended by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, aimed to integrate Syria into the circle of nations, such as the UAE and Bahrain, who have already normalized ties with Israel through the Abraham Accords. Trump's administration hopes to entice Saudi Arabia to join, although Israel's tensions over Syria's Islamist past remain high.

Syria's potential economic recovery has been bolstered by a major investment pledge from Saudi Arabia. Meanwhile, Trump continues forging ties with Gulf nations, securing massive economic deals as U.S. diplomacy faces criticism over its handling of Palestinian concerns and Iran's nuclear agenda.

(With inputs from agencies.)