Trump Announces Plan to Lift US Sanctions on Syria, Praises Erdogan’s Role in Regional Diplomacy

Ankara, July 2026 : US President Donald Trump on Tuesday announced that his administration would remove long-standing sanctions on Syria, signalling a major shift in Washington’s Middle East policy. Speaking alongside Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Ankara ahead of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) Summit, Trump described Syria as a “friend” and credited Erdogan with helping improve US relations with the country’s new leadership.

Responding to a question during a joint media appearance, Trump confirmed that his administration had decided to lift the sanctions imposed on Syria over the years. “We’re going to be taking the sanctions off. It’s time to do that,” he said, adding that he did not want Syrian leaders to face unnecessary obstacles as they worked to rebuild the country.

Trump said the decision had been taken after consultations with senior members of his administration, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth. “We’re working very closely with Marco Rubio, Scott Bessent, Pete Hegseth and everybody else. We’re going to be taking the sanctions off,” the President said.

Emphasising the importance of rebuilding ties with Damascus, Trump remarked that sanctions should not be imposed on friendly nations. “You don’t want to sanction friends. It’s very simple. There are plenty of people we can sanction, and we are sanctioning them. But we don’t want to sanction friends,” he stated.

The US President also praised Turkish President Erdogan for playing a significant role in facilitating Washington’s engagement with Syria’s new leadership. According to Trump, Erdogan’s diplomatic efforts helped strengthen communication with Damascus during a period of political transition.

Trump spoke highly of Syria’s new leader, saying the country had made remarkable progress under the new administration. “Because of the president, we have a very good relationship with the new leader of Syria, and he’s done an amazing job,” Trump said. “In a year and a half, he has pulled the whole country together. I have a very good relationship with him. We were among those who really wanted him, and he’s done a great job. It’s not an easy task.”

The announcement represents one of the clearest indications yet that the Trump administration intends to normalise relations with Syria after years of economic restrictions imposed by successive US governments. The move is expected to reshape Washington’s approach to the region and could open the door for greater diplomatic and economic engagement with Damascus.

Earlier in the meeting, Trump also commended Turkey’s role in regional affairs, particularly regarding Iran. He said Ankara had been “very instrumental” in diplomatic efforts involving Tehran and had deliberately avoided becoming directly involved in recent regional conflicts despite possessing a strong military.

Describing Turkey as an important strategic partner, Trump said the country had been “extraordinary” in strengthening bilateral relations with the United States. His remarks come as Washington seeks to recalibrate its Middle East policy by encouraging key regional allies to play a larger role in promoting stability, resolving conflicts and advancing diplomatic initiatives across the region.

(The content of this article is sourced from a news agency and has not been edited by the Mavericknews30 team.)