President Donald Trump has signed an executive order lifting sanctions imposed by the United States on Syria. Trump’s decision will end Syria’s isolation from the international financial system and pave the way for the country to receive the assistance promised by the US to help rebuild Syria. In December of last year, the armed group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) took control of Syria’s governance, abruptly ending the rule of former President Bashar al-Assad. Syria’s new transitional government has been working hard to re-establish international relations.
While the US has lifted sanctions on Syria, White House spokesperson Caroline Leavitt stated that this would not affect measures taken against former President Bashar al-Assad and individuals associated with him, human rights violators, drug traffickers, those involved in chemical weapons activities, ISIS and ISIS-affiliated individuals, as well as Iran-linked groups. Syrian Foreign Minister Asad al-Shibani said that ending US sanctions against Syria would open new doors for rebuilding and developing the country after a long wait, remove obstacles to economic recovery, and provide opportunities for Syria to participate in the international community.
In May, Syria’s transitional President Ahmed al-Sharaa and Trump met in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The meeting highlighted significant changes in US foreign policy under Trump’s administration. During the trip, Trump unexpectedly announced that he would ease sanctions on Syria. Some members of the US Congress have encouraged lifting all sanctions against Syria. The UK has also announced the lifting of its sanctions on Syria.
US Special Envoy to Syria, Thomas Barrak, said that Syria deserves a chance and that the US has acted accordingly. He stated that lifting sanctions against Syria required careful and extensive work. Trump’s order instructs the US Secretary of State to review HTS’s designation as a terrorist organization and to reconsider Syria’s status as a state sponsor of terrorism.
The White House said that the US government will closely monitor Syria–related issues, including the strengthening of relations between Syria and Israel, how Syria deals with foreign terrorists in the country, the expulsion of alleged Palestinian terrorists, and the prohibition of Palestinian-related terrorist group activities in Syria.
