Watch: The Truth Behind Trump’s Weird Syria Move

On May 13th, at a Saudi-U.S. Investment Forum in Riyadh, Trump announced the end of sanctions on Syria, a nation battered by over a decade of civil war and economic strangulation.

The move was made at the behest of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, and it followed the fall of Bashar al-Assad in December 2024 and the rise of interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa. The next day, Trump met al-Sharaa, urging him to join the Abraham Accords and normalize ties with Israel.

As famous plastic surgeon and influencer Sheila Nazarian declared in a fiery Instagram post, “He fired a shot at every global institution that thought they still ran the world.” But don't confuse his act with altruism: it was calculated disruption, and it’s reshaping the Middle East, global trade, and America’s role in both.

What was really behind these seemingly crazy moves?

This wasn’t just about Syria’s redemption (although it will go a long way to help Syria, if they don't ruin it). It was a masterstroke to reposition Washington as the linchpin of global infrastructure. Backed by Gulf funding, Syria is now poised to launch an AI-driven energy corridor, a futuristic trade route that bypasses Chinese-controlled ports and redirects European oil flows through U.S.-aligned channels.

The corridor is part of a bigger vision linking the Gulf to Europe via Jordan and Israel. It promises to integrate advanced technologies like green hydrogen pipelines and undersea data cables. Saudi Arabia’s $600 billion investment pledge to the U.S., including $20 billion for AI data centers, points to the scale of this shift.

Nazarian’s post captures the essence: “Trump didn’t send troops, he sent business plans.” Unlike his predecessors, who entangled the U.S. in “endless wars,” Trump’s approach swaps military quagmires for economic leverage.

The White House touts a $142 billion arms deal with Saudi Arabia and a $200 billion package with the UAE, including AI semiconductor exports, as proof of a “new golden era” of partnership. These deals strengthen U.S. defense contractors like Lockheed Martin. They also promise cheaper contracts by reducing reliance on prolonged military engagements.

The ripple effects are staggering. For Syria, lifting sanctions unlocks a $400 billion reconstruction effort, with Saudi companies likely to lead the charge. For Europe, the AI energy corridor offers a lifeline to diversify oil and gas away from Russian and Chinese influence, strengthening economic security.

For the Gulf states, it’s a hedge against Iran and a step toward tech-driven economies, with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 and the UAE’s $1.4 trillion AI investment plan at the forefront.

Critics argue Trump’s transactional diplomacy risks instability. Lifting sanctions without congressional approval, many codified in 2019, raises legal questions, and al-Sharaa’s past ties to al-Qaeda encourage skepticism about Syria’s reintegration.

Posts on X reflect mixed sentiments: some say Trump’s dealmaking is a daring pivot, while others warn of ceding influence to Russia or Turkey in Syria’s power vacuum. Yet supporters, like Nazarian, see genius in the disruption. “When was the last time foreign policy actually paid off?” she asks, pointing to a decade of failed interventions.

For Americans, the promise of fewer wars and cheaper defense contracts is tantalizing. As Nazarian puts it, “You might not like how he plays the game,” but the results are hard to ignore. The world is watching and the gates are open.

And hey, if it doesn't work out, he can always place renewed sanctions on Syria. But as the old adage says, "nothing ventured, nothing gained."