Middle Eastern geopolitics: The Trump administration announced the lifting of long-standing U.S. sanctions against Syria, signaling a major policy shift and a calculated risk on the war-torn nation’s transitional leadership.
The announcement, made during President Donald Trump’s recent Gulf tour, has sent waves through international circles. While visiting Riyadh, Trump publicly shook hands with Syria’s interim President Ahmed al-Shara, a former jihadist commander turned politician, who took power following the ousting of longtime autocrat Bashar al-Assad in December. The gesture marked a symbolic end to decades of American isolation of Damascus.
“We want to give Syria a chance at greatness,” President Trump stated, echoing language that surprised even some within his administration. “The Syrian people have suffered long enough. Now is the time to help rebuild what was destroyed.”
The Syrian Foreign Ministry responded with rare praise for Washington. In a statement, it said the sanctions relief was “a positive step in the right direction to reduce humanitarian and economic struggles in the country.”
U.S. sanctions on Syria date back to 1979, initially imposed under the rule of Hafez al-Assad, Bashar’s father. The restrictions deepened significantly after the Assad regime’s brutal crackdown on protesters in 2011, a move that triggered the Syrian Civil War and eventually led to over 500,000 deaths and widespread infrastructure collapse.
Washington’s hardline stance against any post-war reconstruction involving Assad or his allies had long hampered investment in Syria. These measures were further codified in the 2020 Caesar Act, which threatened sanctions against any entity aiding Assad’s government.
With Assad deposed and a new administration in place, Washington is pivoting. On Friday, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent confirmed that the U.S. is now “implementing authorisations to encourage new investment into Syria.”
The Treasury Department clarified that the sanctions relief is conditional: Syria must not harbor terrorist groups and must safeguard the rights of ethnic and religious minorities. Concurrently, a 180-day waiver of the Caesar Act was issued by the State Department to ensure foreign investment is not obstructed by legal ambiguities.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio reinforced this approach. “Today’s actions represent the first step on delivering on the president’s vision of a new relationship between Syria and the United States,” Rubio said. “This waiver will facilitate electricity, energy, water, and sanitation projects and enable a more effective humanitarian response.”
The political rehabilitation of Ahmed al-Shara is as dramatic as it is controversial. Once considered a terrorist by the U.S. and subject to a $10 million bounty, Shara was previously linked with Islamist factions that fought both the Assad regime and U.S.-backed forces. His reemergence as a transitional leader with U.S. endorsement reflects the complex realities of Syria’s fragmented post-war landscape.
While skeptics warn of legitimizing a former jihadist, proponents argue that his grassroots support and battlefield alliances give him unique leverage to stabilize the country. As one senior U.S. official put it, speaking on condition of anonymity: “Shara is not perfect, but he’s the only one who can hold the country together right now.”
Earlier this month, the European Union also lifted some sanctions, particularly those targeting Syria’s banking sector. This included unfreezing the Syrian central bank’s assets and allowing access to international credit markets.
European leaders have been more cautious in embracing Syria’s new leadership. While acknowledging the necessity of engagement, many remain wary of Shara’s past and emphasize the need for judicial oversight, electoral processes, and transparent governance.
Germany’s Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock stated, “We support a gradual normalization contingent on Syria’s new government demonstrating commitment to democracy and human rights.”
Analysts agree that the sanctions relief could be a game-changer for Syria’s economy, devastated after 14 years of civil war. Sectors like energy, construction, and telecommunications are expected to attract immediate interest. Yet, rebuilding will require far more than financial injections.
Human rights groups have voiced concern that economic normalization without political reform could entrench new forms of authoritarianism.
“Reconstruction must be accompanied by justice for war crimes, inclusive governance, and freedom of expression,” said Lama Fakih, director at Human Rights Watch. “Otherwise, we risk repeating the mistakes that led to the conflict in the first place.”
For Trump, the move appears aimed at leaving a legacy of disruptive diplomacy. Coming amid tensions with Iran and fatigue over prolonged military entanglements in the region, the Syria pivot offers a chance to reshape U.S. engagement in the Middle East.
“This is vintage Trump: shock the system, reverse course, and bet big on an outcome no one expects,” said Professor Charles Lister of the Middle East Institute. “But whether this gamble pays off will depend on how Syria’s new leaders respond.”
In Damascus, initial signs are hopeful. Government buildings once emblazoned with portraits of Assad now bear slogans of unity and reform. Shara, who remains under close watch by Western intelligence, has vowed to establish an interim constitution, hold elections within 18 months, and ensure the return of refugees.
The lifting of U.S. sanctions on Syria is more than a diplomatic about-face; it is a calculated wager on redemption and reconstruction. As Syria stands on the cusp of renewal, the world watches closely.
Whether this policy yields peace or reverts to instability will depend not just on international support, but on the capacity of Syria’s new leadership to break from its violent past and chart a new, inclusive future.
