Trump Announces End to U.S. Sanctions on Syria Following Talks with Erdogan and Gulf Leaders
Erdogan Trump
U.S. President Donald Trump announced the lifting of “brutal and crippling” U.S. sanctions on Syria, a major geopolitical move following consultations with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, and other influential figures in the Middle East.
Speaking at an investment forum in Riyadh on Tuesday, Trump declared his intent to give Syria “a chance at greatness,” echoing similar sentiments expressed by leaders in the region.
“After discussing the situation in Syria with the crown prince, your crown prince, and also with President Erdogan of Türkiye… I will be ordering the cessation of sanctions against Syria,” Trump said.
“Now it’s their time to shine,” he added. “We’re taking them all off. So, I say, ‘Good luck Syria. Show us something very special, like they’ve done, frankly, in Saudi Arabia.’”
Trump’s announcement follows a statement made the day before, in which he confirmed he was considering lifting sanctions imposed during the rule of Bashar al-Assad, who was ousted after nearly 25 years in power. Assad fled to Russia on December 8, ending the Baath Party’s reign, which began in 1963.
The move aligns with shifting Western strategies toward Damascus. Just last week, French President Emmanuel Macron revealed that the European Union would also begin gradually lifting sanctions during a meeting in Paris with Syria’s new president, Ahmed al-Sharaa.
An international conference is underway in Paris, hosting officials from Türkiye and Gulf nations, aiming to tackle post-Assad security and reconstruction efforts in Syria.
Trump, who arrived in Riyadh Tuesday as part of his first overseas tour since taking office in January, is also expected to meet President al-Sharaa during his stay in Saudi Arabia. A White House official confirmed that Trump has “agreed to say hello” to the Syrian leader on Wednesday.
The trip includes additional stops in Qatar and the United Arab Emirates, where Trump is expected to discuss regional stability and economic cooperation.
In a related development, Secretary of State Marco Rubio is scheduled to meet with Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani in Türkiye later this week, continuing diplomatic efforts to shape Syria’s future.
The lifting of sanctions marks a significant shift in U.S. foreign policy and could signal a broader effort to reintegrate Syria into the international community after years of isolation and conflict.
