In a surprising shift from long-standing U.S. foreign policy, President Donald Trump announced his intention to lift sanctions on Syria, betting big on a new transitional government he believes could turn things around in the war-torn nation.
Speaking at an investment summit in Riyadh, Trump made it clear he’s ready to ditch the pressure campaign that’s gripped Damascus for over a decade. “They’ve got a new team in charge,” he said, referring to Ahmed al-Sharaa—better known by his militant alias, Abu Mohammad al-Julani—“and it’s time we give them a shot at rebuilding.”
Al-Sharaa, once the face of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), an Islamist group with deep-rooted links to Al-Qaeda, now heads the fragile coalition that unseated President Bashar Assad late last year. Despite his controversial past, Washington sees him—at least for now—as the best bet for restoring order.
“I’m calling for a full stop to all sanctions,” Trump declared. “Let’s give Syria a chance to shine. The war’s dragged on long enough.”
The move is already drawing attention across the globe. Al-Sharaa is scheduled to meet Trump in Saudi Arabia this week. In an interview with Reuters, Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shibani welcomed the thaw, saying Syria is “ready to build ties grounded in mutual respect and shared interests.” He even floated the idea that Trump could broker a “historic peace” that benefits both countries.
Al-Sharaa has also been working the diplomatic circuit, stopping in Paris last week for talks with French President Emmanuel Macron. He called the ongoing sanctions a senseless obstacle to Syria’s recovery, especially after 15 grueling years of bloodshed.
Russia has been pushing for a similar outcome. Back in February, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov urged the international community to scrap sanctions unconditionally, arguing that they were only deepening the suffering of ordinary Syrians.
Syria’s collapse into civil war dates back to 2011, when an uprising against Assad spiraled into a brutal conflict. The U.S., under President Obama, backed so-called moderate rebels—many of whom later crossed over to extremist factions. Trump himself didn’t hold back either, having launched multiple missile strikes during his first term.
Things came to a head last December when Al-Sharaa’s HTS-led forces stormed Damascus, reportedly committing atrocities against Assad loyalists, Christians, and members of the Alawite community. The fighting didn’t end there. This year, clashes erupted between loyalist militias and the Druze minority, drawing condemnation from the UN and rights groups.
Even with the war’s darkest chapters still casting a long shadow, Trump seems determined to turn the page. “Good luck, Syria,” he said with a grin. “Show us something very special.”
