Trump’s Surprising Announcement on Syrian Sanctions
In a surprising turn of events, President Donald Trump declared on Tuesday that he would lift all Syrian sanctions in Saudi Arabia. This decision to support a country ravaged by 13 years of conflict took many by surprise, both in the region and within his own administration.
Officials in Washington, particularly in the State and Treasury departments, have been scrambling for years to understand how to potentially cancel these sanctions, according to sources familiar with the situation.
The White House had not provided any memorandums or directives to prepare for this reversal, nor did it give any indication to officials that such an announcement was on the horizon, a senior U.S. official revealed.
Trump’s sudden move seemed typical of his style—unexpected, dramatic, and bewildering—not only to allies but also to some policymakers who were responsible for implementing these changes.
Following the announcement, there was confusion about how the administration planned to lift the sanctions. By the time Trump met with interim Syrian President Ahmed Alshara in Saudi Arabia, State and Treasury officials were still unclear on the next steps.
“Everyone is trying to figure out how to implement that,” remarked a U.S. official regarding the president’s announcement.
In the wake of former President Bashar al-Assad’s removal late last year, both departments had worked on memos to guide the potential lifting of sanctions, should the government decide to pursue that path.
However, there has been ongoing debate among senior White House officials and lawmakers about the implications of easing sanctions, especially considering Shara’s prior connections to Al Qaeda, despite Syrian leaders severing ties with the group in 2016.
There wasn’t any clear indication that Trump had made a definitive decision about sanctions before he traveled to Saudi Arabia, at least as far as state and treasury officials were concerned, according to one senior U.S. official.
The State and Treasury Departments did not immediately respond to inquiries.
White House officials mentioned that Türkiye and Saudi Arabia had lifted restrictions on Trump, prompting him to meet with Shara. In his statement, Trump expressed the desire to facilitate a brighter future for Syria.
A Complex Reversal
The easing of Syrian sanctions doesn’t appear to be just around the corner.
A report from the White House indicated that Trump sought compliance from Syria on certain conditions before sanctions could be lifted, including the expulsion of foreign terrorists, deportation of “Palestinian terrorists,” and cooperation to prevent the resurgence of ISIS.
Removing sanctions is typically a complicated process, requiring careful coordination across various agencies and Congress.
In the case of Syria, the task is particularly formidable due to the extensive measures in place intended to sever the country from the international banking system and restrict numerous imports.
The U.S. first labeled Syria as a state sponsor of terrorism in 1979, subsequently enacting multiple rounds of sanctions, particularly in the wake of the 2011 uprising against Assad.
Edward Fishman, a former U.S. official and author, noted that the process of unwinding sanctions—imposed through a combination of executive orders and legislative measures—could take several months. He contrasted this with the Finance Ministry’s relatively smoother sanctions relief experience under the nuclear deal with Iran in 2015.
Adding to the complexity is the Caesar Syrian Civil Protection Act, passed in 2019 and renewed last year, which imposed secondary sanctions not only on the Assad government but also on other entities that collaborated with it.
Reversing this legislation would necessitate action from Congress; however, it does include clauses allowing the president to suspend sanctions for national security reasons. Trump might also issue a general license to temporarily lift some or all sanctions.
Fishman expressed skepticism that all sanctions would be lifted under Trump’s orders, suggesting that specific Syrian individuals or groups linked to terrorism may remain on the sanctions list.
