When President Donald Trump announced in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday that he would lift all sanctions on Syria, the decision, which will boost a country devastated by 13 years of war, took many in the region by surprise.

P resident Donald Trump announced on Tuesday, May 13, that he plans to end the U.S. sanctions imposed on Syria, which have been in place for over 45 years. Announcing the news on the first day of his Middle East tour, during the U.S.-Saudi Investment Forum, Trump said he would be lifting sanctions “in order to give them [Syria] greatness.”

The day began with pomp in the Saudi capital, Riyadh, and ended in Qatar after the U.S. leader was greeted with camels and sped to what he said was a “perfecto” marble palace.

"Oh, what I do for the crown prince," Trump said, recounting how he arrived at the decision following discussions with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.

President Trump met with Syria's interim President on Wednesday, a day after lifting sanctions and marking a major policy shift towards peace and rebuilding relations.

But there’s one notable exception that’s emerged in the past 24 hours: Trump’s new Syria policy.

Trump arrived in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on Tuesday after a 15-hour flight for a four-day tour of the Middle East. Upon arriving, he was met by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman after disembarking from Air Force One before attending a Saudi-U.S. Investment forum.