U.S. President Donald Trump has announced the lifting of long-standing sanctions on Syria, marking an unexpected shift in Washington’s Middle East policy.
U.S. President Donald Trump has announced that all sanctions imposed on Syria will be lifted. The decision is reportedly the result of an initiative by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
Trump made the announcement during a speech at an investment forum in Riyadh. He stated that Syria should be given “a new chance to grow and move forward.”
“We are removing all sanctions. This is their time to shine. Good luck, Syria – show us what you’ve got,” Trump emphasized.
The White House has confirmed that Trump will meet with Syria’s new president, Ahmed al-Sharaa, on Wednesday. The meeting is expected to take place in Saudi Arabia.
Al-Sharaa was previously affiliated with al-Qaeda but announced in 2016 that he had cut ties with the group. He assumed power following the fall of the Bashar al-Assad regime. However, Israeli officials still consider him a radical Islamist.
Trump stated that the decision was made after talks with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
“Sanctions served an important purpose. But now it’s time to turn a new page for Syria,” the U.S. President added.
According to Trump, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio will meet with the Syrian foreign minister later this week. The meeting is being seen as the first step toward restoring diplomatic relations between Washington and Damascus.
It should be noted that the U.S. sanctions were imposed during the Assad regime. They restricted Syria’s access to the international financial system and hindered post-war reconstruction efforts.
Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shibani welcomed Trump’s decision, calling it “a turning point.”
“We are ready to build a new relationship with the United States based on mutual respect and shared interests,” Shibani said.
The minister also added that Trump could achieve “a historic peace agreement and a major victory for U.S. interests in Syria” with this move. In a post on the social media platform X, Shibani thanked Saudi Arabia for its mediation efforts and described the lifting of sanctions as “a new beginning” for Syria’s reconstruction.
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