Trump Lifts Syria Sanctions, Signaling New Diplomatic Approach

On Monday afternoon, President Donald Trump signed an executive order to formally remove all sanctions on Syria. The order directed the Secretaries of State, Commerce, and Treasury to relieve sanctions and waive export controls. The stated goal was to support Syria's path to stability and peace. However, the order maintained sanctions on specific individuals and groups, including former President Assad and his associates, human rights abusers, drug traffickers, those linked to chemical weapons activities, ISIS and its affiliates, and Iranian proxies.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt emphasized the administration's commitment to a stable, unified, and peaceful Syria. Ambassador Tom Barrack, Trump's envoy to Syria, described the process of lifting the sanctions as complex. Brad Smith from the Treasury Department clarified that sanctions would remain in place where necessary, particularly against those destabilizing the region. Smith also suggested that the removal of sanctions represented a new beginning for the Syrian people, with the U.S. aiming to foster a brighter future for the country.

The administration acknowledged that some sanctions would require Congressional action to be lifted, including those dating back to 1979 when Syria was designated a state sponsor of terrorism. The administration has not yet removed this designation. Trump recently met with Syria’s new interim leader, Ahmed al-Sharaa, during a Middle East visit.

Al-Sharaa's group, Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), a Syrian militant organization, overthrew Assad in March. Al-Sharaa had been actively seeking a relationship with the U.S. and the lifting of sanctions, offering various incentives such as a Trump Tower in Damascus, improved relations with Israel, and access to Syria's oil and gas resources.

U.S. sanctions had previously imposed financial penalties on entities providing support to the Syrian government and restricted U.S. dealings with Syrian entities, including those in the oil and gas sector. Syrian banks were also effectively excluded from global financial systems.

The new executive order coincides with ongoing back-channel talks between Israeli and Syrian officials regarding a potential security and normalization agreement. While some Israeli officials expressed concerns about losing leverage in these negotiations, a senior administration official stated that the U.S. was not focused on nation-building and that it was in Syria's best interest to move towards a relationship with Israel. The official also noted that the president removed the sanctions without preconditions.