U.S. President Donald Trump has invited Syria’s new President Ahmed al-Sharaa to join the Abraham Accords and normalize relations with Israel, marking a major diplomatic overture during his recent Gulf tour. The invitation, extended in Riyadh on May 14, was followed by reports from Israeli media on May 15 revealing ongoing secret talks between Israeli and Syrian officials.
According to Israeli Channel 12 News, the discussions are being mediated by the United Arab Emirates, while Haaretz reports Qatari involvement, claiming the talks have been underway for several months. Both sources suggest a real possibility that Syria could eventually join the Abraham Accords.
President al-Sharaa acknowledged the existence of “security-related” talks through mediators but declined to comment on diplomatic normalization. Channel 12 also revealed a recent meeting in Azerbaijan between Israeli military officials, including Major General Oded Basyuk, and representatives from Syria and Turkey.
Trump later told reporters that al-Sharaa responded positively to the idea of joining the accords, though he acknowledged that “there is still a lot of work to do.” This marks the first direct communication between the U.S. and Syrian presidents in 25 years.
Israel is reportedly viewing the developments with cautious optimism, especially as Washington considers easing sanctions on Syria. Analysts believe the potential shift could signal Syria’s movement away from Iranian influence and closer alignment with U.S. interests—possibly reshaping regional dynamics, including Israeli-Turkish relations.
Reports from The London Times suggest that both the U.S. and Gulf states are actively working to pull Syria out of Iran’s orbit. Meanwhile, Türkiye has been stepping up support for Syrian rebel groups aligned with the Sharaa government.
Though Israeli airstrikes on former regime targets in Syria continue, this new round of diplomatic activity signals a significant potential turning point in Middle East politics.
