ILOn July 8, 2026, U.S. President Donald Trump met with Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa on the sidelines of the NATO summit in Ankara. During the meeting, Trump announced plans to remove Syria from the U.S. list of State Sponsors of Terrorism, a designation dating back to 1979. Trump expressed support for Syria's economic recovery and pledged U.S. corporate investment in the country. He praised al-Sharaa for uniting Syria and described him as having done a 'fantastic job.' A week later, Trump met with Iraqi Prime Minister-designate Ali al-Zaidi at the White House, where they discussed expanding economic ties and U.S. involvement in Iraq's oil and gas sector. Both leaders emphasized cooperation, though neither explicitly addressed a proposed U.S.-backed pipeline project connecting Iraq's Kirkuk oil fields to Syria's Mediterranean coast. This pipeline, originally built in 1952, was closed in the 1980s amid Syria's alignment with Iran during the Iran-Iraq War. The initiative aims to reduce Iranian influence over the Strait of Hormuz.
Bias read (Center): The article presents factual information about diplomatic meetings and infrastructure projects without overtly favoring any political side. It reports on Trump's actions and statements neutrally, providing context about the pipeline's historical significance and geopolitical implications without slm
