Donald Trump Announces Removal of Sanctions on Syria

President Donald Trump has announced the removal of all US sanctions on Syria following the fall of the Assad regime, calling it an opportunity for Syria to achieve “greatness.”

Quick Takes

Trump announced the complete lifting of sanctions on Syria during his Middle East trip, marking a significant policy shift to support the new government under President Ahmed al-Sharaa.
The sanctions removal comes after the Assad regime was toppled in December 2024, and it ends restrictions that had been in place since 2004 and intensified in 2011.
International investment is expected to flow into Syria, particularly from Arab nations and Turkey, following years of economic isolation.
Trump met with Syria’s new president in Saudi Arabia to discuss normalizing ties, fighting terrorism, and Syria’s potential signing of the Abraham Accords.
After 14 years of civil war with over 90% of the population living in poverty, Syrians celebrated the decision as a pathway to reconstruction and economic recovery.

Trump’s Move in Middle East Diplomacy

President Donald Trump announced the complete lifting of US sanctions on Syria during his visit to Saudi Arabia, signaling a dramatic shift in American foreign policy toward the Middle Eastern nation. The decision comes months after the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime in December 2024 and the establishment of a transitional government led by President Ahmed al-Sharaa. The sanctions, which had been in place since 2004 and were strengthened in 2011, had effectively isolated Syria from the global financial system and severely restricted its economy. Trump explained his rationale during the announcement, describing Syria’s new leadership as a chance to rebuild.

“In Syria, which has seen so much misery and death, there is a new government that will hopefully succeed in stabilizing the country and keeping peace. That’s what we want to see,” Trump stated during his address in Saudi Arabia. He also said, “I will be ordering the cessation of sanctions against Syria in order to give them a chance at greatness.”

The announcement came after the State Department provided Syria with its conditions to remove the sanctions in the form of a 12-point list. The Guardian reported that negotiations were ongoing when Trump announced the end of the sanctions.

Trump says U.S. will remove all sanctions on Syria https://t.co/dt9hNNITmx

— CNBC (@CNBC) May 13, 2025

Diplomatic Meeting

Following the sanctions announcement, Trump met with Syria’s President Ahmed al-Sharaa in Saudi Arabia, where they discussed normalizing diplomatic relations between the United States and Syria for the first time in over a decade.

During the discussions, President Trump reportedly urged the Syrian government to help fight Islamic State remnants, “deport Palestinian terrorists,” and to address the country’s chemical weapons. His administration has also called for the protection of religious minorities from Assad’s supporters. Syria had reportedly prepared to offer access to oil resources, reassurances regarding Israel’s security, and a proposal to erect a Trump tower in Damascus as part of their diplomatic overtures.

Economic Implications and Regional Response

The lifting of US sanctions could have far-reaching economic implications for Syria, which has been devastated by 14 years of civil war, sectarian violence, and terrorist attacks. With over 90% of the population living in poverty and the country lacking access to the international Swift banking system, the sanctions removal provides a crucial opening for reconstruction efforts and trade normalization. Arab countries, particularly the UAE and Jordan, have been pushing for Syria’s reintegration into the Arab League, and international investors from these nations are now positioned to enter the Syrian market.

The announcement was met with celebration in Damascus, where crowds gathered in the streets and social media videos of Trump dancing circulated widely. The United Nations, Red Cross, Arab League, and numerous NGOs had advocated for sanctions relief, especially following the devastating earthquake that struck Syria in 2023.

Israel, however, has been less welcoming of the new government and has reportedly carried out many airstrikes against the country over the last few months.