Rubio meets Syria's leader in New York as isolation eases for Damascus

NEW YORK — Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa met Monday with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio in New York, in a development that underscores Syria’s widening outreach to the West as the country’s isolation gradually eases. Al-Sharaa became the first Syrian head of state to attend a United Nations General Assembly high-level gathering in nearly six decades, a milestone that reflects a broader approach by Damascus to redraw its regional and global relationships after years of conflict.

The State Department described the conversations as focusing on counterterrorism cooperation, efforts to locate missing Americans, and the importance of Israel-Syria relations for broader regional security. The talks occurred as Syria appears to be moving toward a potential security arrangement with Israel that could be finalized in the near term, even as U.S.-Syrian ties continue to be shaped by sanctions relief and ongoing diplomacy. Rubio highlighted what he called an opportunity for Syria to build a stable and sovereign nation, following sanctions relief announced by the administration earlier this year.

The delegation’s presence in New York was cleared only after the State Department waived Assad-era visa restrictions on al-Sharaa and his entourage to permit attendance at the Assembly, underscoring the fragile balance between sanctions and diplomatic engagement. While some penalties remain, U.S. officials say the sanctions relief aims to help Syria emerge as a constructive, stabilizing presence in the Middle East during a challenging postwar period. Al-Sharaa urged Washington to remove remaining measures, saying sanctions risk harming ordinary Syrians who are seeking to rebuild a shattered economy and society.

In remarks connected to the forum circuit surrounding the Assembly, al-Sharaa also met with Senators and House members who oversee foreign affairs and urged Congress to advance legislation to lift penalties still in place. The meeting with Sen. Jeanne Shaheen and Rep. Gregory Meeks reflected ongoing congressional engagement on sanctions policy as Syria navigates its path toward normalization with regional and international partners.

Al-Sharaa’s remarks at the Concordia Annual Summit in New York reflected a cautious stance toward broader regional normalization. He suggested that Syria’s situation differs markedly from the Abraham Accords—under which several Arab states moved to normalize relations with Israel during Donald Trump’s presidency—arguing that Syria’s borders and security concerns create distinct dynamics. “There’s a big difference between Syria and those members in the Abraham Accords,” he told attendees. “Syria is different. And those who are part of the Abraham Accords are not neighbors to Israel. Therefore, Syria as a neighbor has been subjected to over 1,000 raids, strikes and Israeli incursions.” He added that negotiations with Israel would proceed in phases toward restoring a 1974 truce.

The dialogue extended beyond diplomatic posturing. Al-Sharaa sat with retired Gen. David Petraeus, the former U.S. commander who played a pivotal role in counterterrorism efforts in Iraq and Afghanistan and who also served as CIA director. The two met in a New York conference hall after fighting on opposite sides of the U.S.-led wars in Iraq two decades ago. The encounter highlighted how shifting alliances can intersect with the broader push to redefine Syria’s role in regional security. While Petraeus’s presence underscored the U.S. interest in stabilizing Syria, al-Sharaa’s public remarks painted a measure of skepticism about rapid rapprochement with the West and recommended a careful approach to interstate engagement.

Al-Sharaa praised Trump administration decisions on sanctions relief, telling attendees that the United States had taken a bold step toward offering Syria a new opportunity. “I think Syria deserves a new opportunity,” he said. The diplomat said that removing barriers could help Syria recover from years of war and position it to participate more constructively in regional diplomacy. Yet he emphasized that sanctions relief would not erase the need for accountability and a comprehensive peace process, noting that the Syrian state would pursue accountability against those responsible for abuses, “even if they were the closest people to us.” He added that, for the first time in 60 years, international fact-finding teams had been allowed into Syria, signaling a potential shift toward greater transparency and cooperation on human rights investigations.

The Associated Press spoke with multiple lawmakers and experts about the broader implications of the New York meetings. In addition to Rubio’s remarks, the discussions with Shaheen and Meeks signaled a bipartisan interest in calibrating sanctions relief with concrete reforms, and they underscored a desire in Washington to see tangible outcomes on counterterrorism cooperation and regional peace processes. The approach suggests a broader strategy to coax Syria away from its isolation by tying relief to verifiable progress in security and governance.

The unfolding talks come as Syria remains at a crossroads. The government has sought to reestablish ties with Arab countries and the West after years of conflict and international estrangement, during which Damascus faced harsh sanctions and widespread international opposition to the Assad regime’s authority. The shift toward engagement is not without risk, given lingering concerns about human rights and accountability for abuses that occurred during the war. Still, the momentum surrounding U.N. sessions and high-level diplomacy in New York indicates Syria’s leadership is pursuing a more integrated role in regional security architectures and in reconciliation efforts with Western powers, even as negotiations with Israel continue in an uncertain, incremental fashion.

The gathering in New York arrives at a moment when Syria is negotiating its future on multiple fronts, including potential security arrangements with Israel, continued sanctions relief, and the complicated task of rebuilding governance structures after years of conflict. The international community remains divided on how quickly to normalize relations with Damascus, with some urging incremental steps tied to demonstrable progress on human rights and respect for civil liberties, while others push for broader engagement aimed at stabilizing an already fragile Middle East.

As the U.N. General Assembly convenes this week, diplomats will monitor whether the meetings in New York translate into concrete policy shifts, enhanced humanitarian access, and clearer pathways for reconstruction and regional cooperation. The coming days will test Syria’s capacity to translate high-profile diplomacy into practical gains for its people, while Washington and its allies weigh how to balance sanctions policy with the strategic objective of integrating Syria into a more stable regional order.