Click here to subscribe.When President Donald Trump met with Syria’s interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa in Saudi Arabia on Wednesday, the encounter went beyond the “hello” the White House had told reporters to expect.

U.S President Donald Trump's recent Middle East tour marks a significant shift in U.S. foreign policy, as he engages with Syria's new leader, Ahmed al-Sharaa, signaling a potential thaw in relations.

A series of side deals by the U.S. administration is raising questions about how closely in sync the allies are over major challenges in the region.