President Donald Trump announced Tuesday that the United States will lift all sanctions on Syria, ending more than a decade of economic pressure and opening the door to new relations with the country’s new leadership.
Speaking at an investment forum in Riyadh, Trump said the decision was aimed at giving Syria “a chance at greatness” under its new president, Ahmed al-Sharaa, who took power after rebel forces ousted former President Bashar al-Assad in December.
.@POTUS: “Far too many American presidents have been afflicted with the notion that it’s our job to look into the souls of foreign leaders and use US policy to dispense justice for their sins … It is God’s job to sit in judgment — my job to defend America and to promote the… pic.twitter.com/WN8iytQjgK
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“In Syria, which has seen so much misery and death, there is a new government that we must all hope will succeed in stabilizing the country and keeping peace,” Trump said.
The U.S. president said he was acting on requests from Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Turkish President Recep Erdoğan, who both urged him to back Syria’s recovery.
U.S. sanctions imposed financial penalties on any foreign individual or company providing material support to the Syrian government, while also prohibiting U.S. entities from engaging with Syrian businesses, including those in oil and gas. Additionally, Syrian banks were effectively cut off from global financial systems.
Residents of Homs poured into the streets in celebration following Trump’s announcement that U.S. sanctions on Syria would be lifted.
Syria’s foreign minister hailed the move as a “new start” for a nation ravaged by years of war.
Syrians in the city of Homs took to the streets in celebration after Donald Trump announced the lifting of U.S. sanctions on Syria. pic.twitter.com/A25kEVY4Ne
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Trump’s announcement was made during the first leg of a three-nation Middle East trip, focused on addressing regional threats and strengthening economic partnerships.
While in Riyadh, he signed a $142 billion arms deal with Saudi Arabia. Additionally, Saudi Arabia pledged $600 billion in investments in the U.S., with the possibility of further investments in the future.
Trump is scheduled to meet with al-Sharaa on Wednesday in Saudi Arabia. He will then travel to Qatar and the United Arab Emirates, where investment talks are expected to continue.
