Trump lifts Syria sanctions as west shifts toward post-Assad reconstruction
By Elham Asaad Buaras
London (The Muslim News): In a historic policy reversal, US President, Donald Trump, has announced the full lifting of American sanctions on Syria, signalling a dramatic shift in Western engagement with the war-torn country following the ousting of longtime ruler Bashar al-Assad.
Speaking at an investment forum in Riyadh during his Gulf tour, Trump declared that it was time for Syria to “move forward with a chance at greatness,” adding that “removing sanctions is the first step in giving the Syrian people the future they deserve.” He credited the encouragement of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for the decision, joking: “Oh, what I do for the crown prince.”
The announcement comes in the wake of Assad’s removal in December 2024 by a coalition of rebel forces led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS). Ahmad al-Sharaa, a former opposition figure, was appointed transitional president in January and has since sought international support for rebuilding Syria’s devastated infrastructure and economy.
Trump met President al-Sharaa Wednesday in Riyadh to discuss diplomatic normalisation and pathways for foreign investment in Syria’s reconstruction.
Former US Ambassador to Syria, Robert Ford, welcomed the decision, saying, “Syria is simply devastated. It needs reconstruction, it needs foreign financing. Removing sanctions is vital to enable capital flows from the Gulf and aid agencies.”
Syria’s foreign minister, Asaad Shibani, described the US decision as a “new start” and called on other Western countries to follow suit. “We are opening a new chapter in our national journey — one built on peace, development, and cooperation,” he said in a statement issued from Damascus.
The United States had maintained sanctions on Syria for more than a decade, targeting the Assad regime’s military, energy, and financial networks. These measures were intensified during the Syrian civil war, which began in 2011, and were aimed at isolating Assad and restricting the regime’s access to international capital.
Washington’s move follows similar actions by the UK and EU. On April 25, the UK government lifted sanctions on Syrian state institutions and sectors such as energy and finance. Hamish Falconer, the UK’s Minister for the Middle East, stated, “The Syrian people deserve the opportunity to rebuild their country and economy. A stable Syria is in the UK’s national interest.”
The EU had already suspended restrictions on Syria’s transport, banking, and energy sectors in February. The US began relaxing certain energy-related sanctions in January, paving the way for today’s full repeal.
While sanctions on institutions and sectors have been lifted, Western countries, including the UK, have retained measures targeting individuals associated with Assad’s regime and groups involved in the trafficking of Captagon, the amphetamine that fuelled parts of Syria’s war economy.
Despite the shift, direct engagement with HTS — still designated a terrorist organisation by the US and UK — remains limited. A UK Foreign Office spokesperson said that such engagement would occur “only when necessary to ensure humanitarian access and maintain regional stability.”
Trump’s announcement represents a strategic pivot in US foreign policy and reflects a broader recalibration among Western powers seeking to re-engage with Syria after more than a decade of isolation. With reconstruction now the priority, Syria’s reintegration into the regional and global order appears firmly underway.
[Photo: US President Donald Trump (C) meets with Syrian President Ahmed al-Shara (L) along with the Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud (R) during the first leg of his three-country Middle East tour in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on May 14, 2025. Photojournalist: Bandar Al-Jaloud/Saudi Royal Court/AA]
The post Trump lifts Syria sanctions as west shifts toward post-Assad reconstruction appeared first on The Muslim News.