Trump Ends Sanctions on Syria, Backs New Government's Path

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Photo:Reuters

In a major shift in US policy, former President Donald Trump has signed an executive order lifting economic sanctions on Syria. The White House described the decision as a step toward supporting Syria’s path to peace and stability following the ousting of former President Bashar al-Assad by rebel forces late last year.

The sanctions had previously blocked foreign financial aid and investment, isolating the country economically. The new executive order comes as the US signals its willingness to engage with Syria’s new leadership under President Ahmed al-Sharaa, a former rebel commander.

The White House said it would monitor the Syrian government’s actions closely, especially regarding normalising relations with Israel, clamping down on terrorist groups, and dismantling Palestinian armed factions operating in the region.

Syria’s new Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shibani welcomed the move, calling it a crucial step in unlocking economic recovery and rejoining the global community.

Despite the change, sanctions remain in place against former president Assad, his inner circle, the Islamic State group, and Iranian-backed militias.

The decision follows Trump’s meeting with President al-Sharaa in Riyadh earlier this year. Sharaa leads Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), an Islamist faction that led the final push against Assad. While HTS once served as al-Qaeda’s affiliate in Syria, it formally cut ties in 2016 but remains designated as a terrorist organisation by the US, UN, and UK.

The order also directs Secretary of State Marco Rubio to review HTS’s status and calls on Syria’s transitional government to take control of detention camps in the country’s northeast, where Islamic State fighters are currently held.

Earlier this year, Rubio warned that without meaningful progress, Syria risked falling back into a full-blown civil war. The 13-year-long conflict under Assad’s rule resulted in over 600,000 deaths and displaced more than 12 million people, leaving most of the population in poverty.

President al-Sharaa has vowed to protect Syria’s ethnic and religious minorities. However, recent violence, including the killing of hundreds of Alawite civilians in March and a suicide bombing at a Damascus church in June, has sparked fear among these communities. Clashes have also erupted between Islamist factions, security forces, and members of the Druze minority.

Ahead of the announcement, the White House reiterated its commitment to promoting peace in the region. “This is another promise made and promise kept by this president,” said spokesperson Karoline Leavitt.

US Special Envoy for Syria Thomas Barrack described the process of lifting sanctions as “tedious and excruciating,” but necessary. “Syria needs to be given a chance, and that’s what’s happened,” he said.

Syria economic recovery