Although he once deemed Syria unimportant, Trump now seems to realise how key it is to Arab states, whose cooperation he greatly values

The US president sees commerce and economic cooperation as the best way to bring stability to a war-torn region. Time will tell if this blueprint will pay dividends.

The drive for shared prosperity is dependent on security, which is why the Trump administration has made this the main focus of ties

Trump has lifted US sanctions, offering Syria a "chance at greatness". Despite lingering hurdles, for the first time in a long time, there is an electric sense of hope in the country.

Libya's former foreign minister, based in the country's east, says political decisions are no longer Libyan, as he recalls several missed opportunities since 2011.