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In a major foreign policy shift, President Donald Trump announced Tuesday that the United States will lift sanctions on Syria, signaling the beginning of normalized relations with the war-torn nation following the collapse of Bashar al-Assad’s regime.
“I will be ordering the cessation of sanctions against Syria in order to give them a chance at greatness,” Trump said during remarks in Riyadh, the first stop on his four-nation Middle East trip. “The sanctions were brutal and crippling… but now it’s their time to shine.”
The move comes as Ahmed al-Sharaa, Syria’s new president and a former insurgent leader, prepares to meet with Trump on Wednesday in Saudi Arabia. Sharaa’s rise to power followed the sudden fall of Assad’s regime last year after more than a decade of civil war. The meeting will mark the first face-to-face encounter between a U.S. president and a Syrian leader in over 20 years.
Sharaa, once head of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) — an Islamist faction with roots in al-Qaeda — previously fought against U.S. forces in Iraq and was on a $10 million U.S. bounty list until 2023. His past has raised alarm among U.S. allies, including Israel, which has continued airstrikes on Syrian military positions.
Nonetheless, the Trump administration is embracing a bold recalibration, arguing that Syria under Sharaa could counterbalance Iranian influence in the region.
“This was backed by our partners in Saudi Arabia and Turkey,” Trump noted, referencing Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, who have encouraged closer ties with Syria to offset Iran’s regional power.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio is expected to meet with Syria’s foreign minister in Turkey later this week, according to the White House.
Bipartisan Concerns and Regional Tensions
The announcement triggered mixed reactions in Washington. Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) urged a measured approach, warning that Sharaa came to power “through force of arms, not the will of the people.”
“Sanctions relief must be earned, not given,” Graham said. “Congress must be fully briefed on the conditions and compliance measures before any designations are lifted.”
He emphasized the need for coordination with Israel, which remains wary of Syria’s new leadership.
“Our Israeli partners are extremely concerned about the state of play in Syria,” he added. “While we may want to empower new actors, this cannot come at the cost of security in the region.”
High Stakes and Big Deals
Trump’s announcement came alongside the unveiling of a $600 billion investment deal with Saudi Arabia, including what the administration called “the largest defense sales agreement in history.” The summit, hosted in Riyadh, is intended to deepen U.S.-Saudi economic and security ties.
The president will travel next to Qatar and the United Arab Emirates during his four-day visit to the region.
The U.S. and Syria severed diplomatic ties over a decade ago amid Assad’s violent crackdown on protesters and ensuing civil war. Reestablishing relations with Damascus would mark a dramatic shift in American policy — and could reshape the geopolitical landscape in the Middle East.
Whether the decision leads to greater stability or sparks new regional risks remains to be seen. Trump, however, remained optimistic:
“Good luck, Syria. Show us something very special.”
