Damascus, Syria – Syria’s transitional president Ahmed al-Sharaa and Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shibani held talks on Saturday with U.S. Special Envoy to Syria Tom Barrack, focusing on key American priorities including economic sanctions relief, foreign investment, and regional security, according to a statement from the Syrian presidency.
The high-level meeting, held during a Syrian government delegation’s visit to Turkey, comes days after the U.S. Treasury Department issued a broad license easing decades-old sanctions on Syria. The move, part of a policy shift announced by President Donald Trump in Riyadh, aims to support the country’s transition away from the former Assad regime.
Related: U.S. Treasury Eases Sanctions on Syria Following Trump’s Directive
The Syrian presidency said the discussions addressed the need to fully lift remaining U.S. sanctions, which it described as a “major burden” on the Syrian people and a barrier to post-conflict economic recovery. The U.S. envoy reportedly confirmed that the sanctions rollback was already underway and would continue in phases until a comprehensive removal is achieved.
Both sides agreed on the importance of attracting foreign investment, especially in energy and infrastructure sectors. President al-Sharaa expressed Syria’s readiness to provide a stable and secure environment for international investors and contribute to reconstruction efforts.
The talks also touched on arms control, with a joint commitment to the complete elimination of Syria’s chemical weapons arsenal in coordination with international partners and under existing agreements.
Security cooperation was a key theme, with discussions covering border management, counter-terrorism coordination, and a regional stability framework. The leaders underscored the need for a nationwide agreement with the U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) that preserves Syria’s territorial integrity and explores mechanisms to integrate SDF units into national defense institutions.
“The meeting was historic,” Barrack said in a statement released by the U.S. Embassy in Turkey. He reaffirmed Washington’s commitment to fostering a “worldwide branding of a new, welcoming Syria without sanctions.”
Al-Sharaa welcomed recent moves by U.S. officials, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s 180-day waiver on Caesar Act penalties, and the Treasury’s easing of restrictions on key Syrian state entities.
The encounter marks a significant step in a broader U.S. recalibration of its Syria policy, pivoting from pressure toward cautious engagement with the transitional administration—seen by Washington as an opportunity to shape a post-Assad era rooted in reform and reintegration.
