00:00Welcome back. Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa is set to visit the White House on Monday,
00:05the first ever by a Syrian leader since the country gained independence in 1946
00:10and just days after the U.S. removed him from its terrorism blacklist.
00:16The visit comes as al-Sharaa pushes for relief from U.S. sanctions
00:20that have long limited Syria's access to international investment.
00:24The 42-year-old took power last December
00:26after his forces toppled Bashar al-Assad's long-standing regime.
00:31Since taking office, al-Sharaa has toured world capitals,
00:35shifting away from former ally Iran and recalibrating ties with Russia,
00:40while engaging with Turkey, Gulf states and now the United States.
00:44President Donald Trump has called al-Sharaa's rise a new chapter for Syria.
00:49They first met in Saudi Arabia in May.
00:52Before becoming president, al-Sharaa was a rebel leader
00:55and once had ties to al-Qaeda, including a $10 million U.S. bounty.
01:01Officials say the White House talks will focus on security cooperation,
01:05including Syria's potential role in an international effort against the Islamic State.
01:11Economic discussions are also expected, particularly the future of U.S. sanctions,
01:16which remain a key factor in Syria's access to international investment.
01:21Ending these sanctions is a priority for al-Sharaa, as he seeks to fund reconstruction.
01:27The World Bank estimates rebuilding Syria could cost more than $200 billion U.S.
