In a dramatic policy reversal with great geopolitical implications, President Donald Trump told Tuesday that the United States will start rolling back its decades-long sanctions against Syria. During an appearance at the Saudi-US Investment Forum in Riyadh, Trump stated that it was time to provide the devastated nation “a chance at greatness” after the Assad regime crumbled at the end of last year.
“Syria’s gone through hell,” Trump said to the audience of international investors and regional leaders. “But it’s their time now to be great.”
The move, Trump explained, was taken following top-level consultations with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. He further stated that Secretary of State Marco Rubio will meet Syria’s foreign minister in Turkey later this week to start the process of re-establishing diplomatic relations — a relationship cut off for more than a decade.
A Turning Point for Syria
The move is a historic milestone. Sanctions on Syria date back to the early 2010s and have targeted Bashar al-Assad’s regime for war crimes, chemical weapon use, and human rights violations during the country’s vicious civil war. Those penalties, while intended to isolate the regime, also devastated Syria’s economy and had ripple effects across the region.
The downfall of Assad’s government in December of 2024, in the last year of the Biden administration, created an opportunity for a reengagement with the world community. Ever since, the new government in Syria — led by President Ahmad al-Sharaa — has called on the great powers to assist in removing the crippling economic sanctions that still limit recovery.
Trump indicated that while the sanctions previously played a “very important function,” the situation had changed completely. “It’s time to give them a real shot. The war is over. Let them rebuild. Let them prosper,” he said.
Who is Ahmad al-Sharaa?
The new Syrian president is not controversy-free. Al-Sharaa was once the leader of Jabhat al-Nusra, a militant organization that had once sworn allegiance to al Qaeda. Even though he officially severed ties with the terror group in 2016, his history remains a serious cause of concern for Western policy experts and analysts.
Still, the Trump administration appears ready to extend an olive branch. A senior White House official confirmed that Trump may hold an informal greeting with al-Sharaa during his stay in Riyadh — a symbolic gesture that could mark the beginning of a new chapter in U.S.-Syria relations.
“We’re watching him closely,” a State Department source noted. “But the reality is, Syria needs stability — and so does the region.”
Regional Impact & Political Response
Trump’s declaration shocked the diplomatic world. Middle East observers say the move has the potential to remake the regional balance of power, particularly as Iran loses its grip and Turkey moves for a greater role in post-conflict Syria.
Responses at home in the U.S. have been divided. Proponents of the action point out that sanctions relief is a pragmatic measure towards regional stability and economic revival. Opponents caution that dealings with a government headed by a one-time militant leader can potentially legitimize extremism.
Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) posted on Twitter: “Lifting sanctions without robust democratic assurances on the table is risky, short-sighted, and may boomerang back on us.”
What Comes Next?
The Trump administration has not outlined a detailed plan for easing the sanctions yet, but Rubio’s meeting in Turkey is anticipated to be the beginning of many diplomatic initiatives. Incentives for trade and investment are likely to follow, especially in energy and infrastructure — the very sectors on which Syria’s reconstruction depends.
Trump concluded his comments in Riyadh on a hopeful note:
“Syria, the world is watching. Show us something very special.”
With the geopolitical board game in motion and the wounds of war still fresh throughout Syria, only time will reveal if this risk will usher in peace — or fresh complications.