In a sweeping policy reversal that marks a dramatic shift in US foreign policy, President Donald Trump has lifted decades-old sanctions on Syria without requiring any preconditions from the government in Damascus. The move, announced during Trump’s visit to Saudi Arabia, signals a recalibration of Washington’s stance toward a country long seen as a regional outlier.
Trump’s Decision Came Unconditionally
State Department Regional Spokesperson Michael Mitchell confirmed the unconditional nature of the decision in an interview with Al-Hurra, stating that the United States “did not request any guarantees from the Sharaa government” before lifting sanctions. “President Trump’s decision came unconditionally,” he said. Mitchell clarified that while the US hopes to see progress on human rights, stability, and counterterrorism, those expectations are not tied to the removal of sanctions.
The announcement followed a meeting in Riyadh between Trump and Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa, with Saudi Crown Prince Muhammad bin Salman and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan participating. Trump praised al-Sharaa as a “charismatic and capable leader” and described the meeting as “wonderful,” underscoring his belief that Syria deserves a fresh start after years of war and economic devastation. “The Syrian people have endured great suffering, and it’s time to give them a chance,” Trump said during his address at the Saudi-US Investment Forum. “We want Syria to succeed.”
A Series of ‘Suggestions’
Despite the absence of formal guarantees, US officials have expressed hopes for progress in key areas. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, speaking after a tripartite meeting in Antalya with Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani, said the administration would begin issuing waivers covering vital economic sectors to jumpstart Syria’s reconstruction. Rubio emphasized that while there are US concerns—such as ISIS resurgence, human rights protections, and the presence of foreign militant groups—sanctions relief was not contingent on any immediate action from Damascus.
Political observers have characterized the decision as a calculated bet. Radwan Ziadeh, a Syrian researcher, noted that lifting sanctions puts Syrian-American relations on “a dual track”—one economic, the other diplomatic. Normalization, he explained, may follow a different timeline and set of conditions, but the economic gesture represents a strategic opening.
Analysts say Trump’s move reflects broader geopolitical motives, including countering Iranian and Russian influence and positioning Syria as a potential regional partner rather than a permanent adversary. Syrian President Sharaa welcomed the decision in a televised address, calling it “courageous and historic.”
While discussions continue on long-term US expectations, including terrorism prevention and regional security, administration officials reiterated that the lifting of sanctions was not a bargaining chip. As Mitchell said, “We want to see progress—but this was about giving Syria the room to begin that progress on its own terms.”
