US and Qatar sign defense and aviation deal as Trump says of emir: ‘we just like each other’ – live

US president says $200bn Boeing order is ‘largest order of jets’ in its history and is full of praise for Qatar’s leader and country’s marble palaces

The meeting between Donald Trump and Syria’s president, Ahmad al-Sharaa, in Saudi Arabia was the culmination of months of diplomacy by the Syrians, as well as their Turkish and Saudi allies, who believed face time with Trump would help end Syria’s international isolation, writes William Christou.

Damascus had prepared a pitch to Trump that included access to Syrian oil, reassurances of Israel’s security and a proposal to build a Trump tower in Damascus.

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