US sanctions on Syria lifted as Trump holds talks with President Assad

U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday, May 13, 2025, met with Syria’s new leader, Ahmad al-Sharaa, in Saudi Arabia, following a surprise announcement the night before that all U.S. sanctions on Syria would be lifted.

The meeting took place ahead of a Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) summit.

It also marked a significant moment in Trump’s four-day tour of the Middle East, where he aimed to strengthen ties with Gulf allies and encourage their investment in the United States.

This high-profile encounter was the result of months of diplomatic efforts by Syria, as well as by its regional partners Turkey and Saudi Arabia.

These nations had been pushing for a direct meeting between Trump and Sharaa.

They believed that a personal engagement could help break Syria’s long-standing international isolation.

Damascus had carefully planned its outreach to Trump, putting together a proposal designed to appeal to his interests and geopolitical concerns.

This included offering the U.S. access to Syrian oil resources and providing assurances that Syria would not threaten Israel’s security.

It also even proposing the construction of a Trump-branded skyscraper, Trump Tower, in the Syrian capital.

The meeting was considered a crucial milestone in Syria’s campaign to gain international recognition for its new government.

The new government took power after former President Bashar al-Assad was ousted in December.

Sharaa had been met with skepticism by Western powers, particularly the United States, due to his militant background.

He previously led the Islamist rebel group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham.

Although the sanctions originally targeted Assad in response to his violent repression of peaceful protesters during the Arab Spring in 2011, they remained in place even after his removal.

The U.S. and other nations were cautious in their approach to the new Islamist-led government.

They maintained economic restrictions while they assessed the leadership’s intentions and stability.

The U.S. State Department had previously provided Syrian officials with a comprehensive set of conditions that needed to be met in exchange for lifting sanctions.

Negotiations were ongoing when Trump abruptly announced late Tuesday that the sanctions would be lifted, catching many by surprise.

Speaking from Saudi Arabia, Trump stated, “There’s a new government that will hopefully succeed in stabilizing the country and keeping peace.

I will be ordering the cessation of sanctions against Syria in order to give them a chance at greatness.”

His remarks suggested a shift in U.S. policy, signaling a willingness to give the Sharaa-led administration an opportunity to prove itself on the world stage.

Lifting the sanctions is expected to be a major step toward reintegrating Syria into the global economy.

After more than a decade of devastating civil war, the Syrian economy is reportedly in ruins.

Ending the U.S. embargo could unlock foreign investment and international aid.

It could also open the door for economic partnerships critical to the country’s reconstruction.

The removal of sanctions also aligns with the broader goals of regional players like Saudi Arabia and Turkey.

Both countries have recently moved toward normalizing ties with Damascus.

Their support was instrumental in brokering the meeting with Trump and in promoting Syria’s reintegration into Middle Eastern diplomacy and commerce.

Despite concerns from some international observers about legitimizing a government with Islamist origins, the move supposedly represents a significant diplomatic breakthrough for Syria.

Experts say it also underscores Trump’s unconventional foreign policy approach.

They say the approach often favored personal diplomacy and bold, headline-making decisions over traditional processes.

In the context of his Middle East trip, Trump’s engagement with Sharaa and the lifting of sanctions are likely intended to further U.S. strategic and economic interests in the region.

The Trump administration aims to foster regional order while opening up new opportunities for American influence and business ventures.

This it plans to achieve by backing a potentially stabilizing force in Syria and encouraging Gulf investments.

Overall, the meeting and subsequent policy shift could mark a turning point for Syria’s future on the international stage.

With it could come an end to years of political and economic isolation and paving the way for national recovery and renewed diplomatic ties.

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