Trump Announces End of US Sanctions on Syria, Signals Diplomatic Reset

US President Donald Trump has announced his intention to lift long-standing American sanctions on Syria, following the fall of the Assad regime last year. The announcement came during his address at the Saudi-US Investment Forum 2025, according to CNN.

Trump described the decision as a step toward peace and reconstruction in the war-torn nation. “There has been too much misery, war, and killing in Syria over the last several years,” he said, expressing hope that lifting sanctions would “give them a chance at greatness.” He emphasized that the move followed consultations with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

The President also revealed that the US has initiated steps to restore diplomatic ties with Syria—its first such move in over a decade. He said Secretary of State Marco Rubio is scheduled to meet Syria’s foreign minister in Turkey later this week, a key step toward improving bilateral relations.

The Assad regime, which collapsed in December 2024 during the final months of the Biden administration, had long been under severe international sanctions. Trump acknowledged their previous necessity but stressed the need for change. “The sanctions were brutal and crippling and served as an important deterrent at the time. But now it’s their time to shine,” he said. “Good luck, Syria. Show us something very special.”

Syria’s new President, Ahmed al-Sharaa—once a founder of the militant group Jabhat al-Nusra—cut ties with al-Qaeda in 2016, a move seen by Washington as a positive shift. A White House official confirmed that Trump is expected to hold an informal meeting with al-Sharaa in Riyadh on Wednesday.

Trump’s announcement marks a significant turn in US foreign policy and signals growing US interest in stabilizing Syria under its new leadership. The President began his Middle East tour on May 13, with visits to Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates.