Washington– The United States has begun a gradual process to ease sanctions on Syria, in what officials say is a strategic move to stabilize the war-torn country and support post-conflict reconstruction efforts.
U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced in a post on the social media platform X the policy shift on Wednesday, stating the initial steps are designed to “provide sanctions relief to stabilize and move Syria towards peace.”
The policy shift comes amid a broader diplomatic realignment in the Middle East. On Tuesday, U.S. President Donald Trump announced the decision to lift sanctions during a speech at the Saudi-U.S. Investment Forum in Riyadh.
“I will be ordering the cessation of sanctions against Syria in order to give them a chance at greatness.”
Trump added that the United States is taking initial steps to normalize ties with Damascus, revealing that U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio is scheduled to meet Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Al-Shaibani in Turkey later this week.
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On Wednesday, Trump held a high-level meeting in Riyadh with Syrian leader Ahmad Al-Sharaa, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, who joined virtually.
Germany welcomed the announcement, describing it as a necessary step toward economic recovery. “Germany will continue to work with the Syrian government on improving the economic environment for a sustainable recovery of the Syrian economy.” the German Foreign Ministry said in a statement on X.
The move marks a significant departure from years of U.S. policy that isolated Syria under Assad’s leadership, and signals a broader effort by Western and regional powers to recalibrate their approach to a country that has endured more than a decade of conflict.
