In a surprising announcement, United States President Donald Trump declared the lifting of all sanctions on Syria during an investment forum in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, as part of his Middle East tour.
Trump asserted that the punitive measures had fulfilled their intended purpose and were no longer necessary.
“I will be ordering the cessation of sanctions against Syria in order to give them a chance at greatness,” he stated.
He ended his speech with hopeful words for the Syrian people: “Good luck, Syria. Show us something very special.”
This decision marks a significant shift in the U.S. policy toward Syria, where sanctions targeted the government of ousted President Bashar al-Assad due to the brutal repression and human rights violations that plagued the country during a civil war lasting nearly 14 years.
The Syrian conflict has resulted in hundreds of thousands of deaths and displaced millions.
Trump acknowledged the presence of a new governing body, led by President Ahmed al-Sharaa, and expressed optimism about its potential for stabilizing the nation.
Al Jazeera Arabic later reported that al-Sharaa will meet with Trump in Saudi Arabia on Wednesday, highlighting the momentum of diplomatic engagement.
In a planned meeting, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio will discuss further relations with Syria’s Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani this week in Turkiye.
Al-Shaibani responded positively to Trump’s announcement, labeling it “a pivotal turning point for the Syrian people” in moving towards stability and reconstruction after years of devastation.
While the announcement has generated enthusiasm among some, political analysts like Marwan Bishara have raised questions regarding the underlying motives behind Trump’s decision to end sanctions and the expectations from Damascus in return.
Bishara pointed out that the U.S. had previously established specific conditions for improving relations with Syria, such as crackdowns on Palestinian groups and potential normalization with Israel.
“There’s also been talk about normalization with Israel—that the new Syria will join the Abraham Accords at the expense of the Palestinians,” he noted.
The removal of sanctions is seen as a welcome development for al-Sharaa’s government, which continues to seek a shift away from the corruption endemic in the previous regime.
Omar Rahman, a fellow at the Middle East Council on Global Affairs, emphasized the significance of this shift, describing it as a crucial step for a nation crippled by conflict.
“It takes away a key obstacle in their ability to establish some kind of economic development, economic prosperity,” he explained.
Rahman also highlighted the role Saudi Arabia has played in pushing the U.S. towards this decision, indicating that the U.S. was previously hesitant about lifting sanctions, wanting to retain leverage over other policy outcomes in Syria.
He noted that other Gulf nations, including Qatar and the UAE, also advocated for the removal of sanctions.
For Trump, the decision required no formal approval.
Syria’s interim government is actively endeavoring to rebuild diplomatic ties and engage with international financial institutions, anticipating that wealthy Gulf Arab states will significantly contribute to reconstructing the country’s devastated economy.
In a recent move, Saudi Arabia and Qatar announced their commitment to settling Syria’s debts to the World Bank, totaling approximately $15 million.
Additionally, the United Kingdom has followed suit by lifting sanctions on 12 Syrian ministries and agencies, including the Ministries of Defence and Interior.
However, challenges remain as military hostilities persist in the region.
In recent weeks, Israel has launched multiple air strikes in Syria, with the Syrian presidency condemning an attack near the presidential palace in Damascus as a “dangerous escalation”.
Tensions have escalated between Israel and Syria, particularly after the Israeli government accused Syrian authorities of failing to protect the Druze minority.
Despite the recent agreement between the Syrian government and the Druze community to avoid needing Israeli intervention, issues regarding Israeli involvement in Syria are far from resolved.
Furthermore, analysts like Bishara caution against underestimating Israel’s role in destabilizing Syria.
He urged U.S. officials to leverage their influence to pressure Israel to halt its operations in Syria as the nation moves toward recovery.
A United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) report from February highlighted the vast work ahead for Syria, stating that at current growth rates, the country would need over 50 years to return to its pre-war economic status.
The report indicates a dire humanitarian situation, with nine out of ten Syrians living in poverty and a quarter unemployed.
Syria’s GDP has plummeted, now valued at less than half of what it was in 2011, at the start of the war.
This economic downturn has compounded the suffering, causing a significant decline in Syria’s Human Development Index, which has dropped to its worst point since the country was first included in the index in 1990.
According to the UNDP, the cumulative “lost GDP” from the ongoing conflict between 2011 and 2024 is estimated to be around $800 billion.
In conclusion, while Trump’s decision to lift sanctions offers a glimmer of hope for a war-ravaged Syria, the path ahead remains fraught with significant challenges, requiring sustained international support and a stable political landscape to facilitate long-term recovery.
image source from：https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/5/13/trump-says-us-to-lift-syria-sanctions-ending-years-of-washingtons-policy
