Ahmed Shara, the leader of the Damascus-controlled HTS, met with Kristalina Georgieva, the head of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), to seek support for his country’s economic development. The meeting took place this week at the IMF headquarters in Washington DC. Syrian Foreign Minister Assad Hassan Shaybani also attended the meeting.
According to the official SANA news agency, the two sides discussed “possible frameworks for cooperation between Syria and the IMF to boost growth and promote economic reforms.” Prior to this visit, Shara attended the COP30 climate summit in Brazil and left for Washington on Saturday night.
White Housespokeswoman Karoline Leavitt announced that US President Donald Trump will meet face-to-face with Shara on Monday. Leavitt called the meeting a “historic step” and said the two leaders were expected to discuss bilateral and regional issues, including the lifting of US sanctions on Syria.
Last week, the US State Department announced its support for Congress to repeal the Caesar Act, legislation that includes sanctions on Syria. This step was seen as a signal of a significant detente in Washington’s relations with Damascus.
Shara’s visit to the US is the first official visit to Washington since Syria’s independence in 1946. The talks are expected to trigger the beginning of a new era in diplomatic relations between the two countries.
