In a stunning U-turn of diplomacy, Syrian president Ahmed al Sharaa - once known as Abu Mohammed al Jolani, former leader of the al-Qaeda affiliate Nusra Front - has arrived in Washington for historic talks with Donald Trump. He rose to power following the collapse of Bashar al-Assad’s regime and now leads Syria’s fragile transitional government. Once a fugitive with a $10 million US bounty, he is being welcomed as a potential partner in rebuilding his war-torn nation and countering extremist threats. Washington’s gamble is clear: support Sharaa to stabilise Syria, curb Iranian and Russian influence, and prevent renewed civil war. Yet challenges loom large: sectarian clashes persist, and doubts remain about his transformation from militant to unifier. The visit, the first trip by a Syrian head of state to the USA since the country gained independence in 1948, could redefine alliances and reshape Middle Eastern geopolitics for a generation.