Riyadh [Saudi Arabia]: In a dramatic shift in US foreign policy, President Donald Trump on Tuesday declared his intent to lift long-standing American sanctions on Syria, following the collapse of the Assad regime late last year. The announcement was made during the Saudi-US Investment Forum 2025 and marks a potential turning point in US-Syria relations, CNN reported.
Framing the move as a gesture of goodwill and optimism, Trump said the decision was aimed at giving Syria “a chance at greatness.”
“Syria, they’ve had their share of travesty, war, killing in many years,” Trump said, adding that his administration had already begun taking steps to restore normal diplomatic relations with Syria. He emphasised this would mark the first such effort by the US in over a decade.
The US decision follows consultations with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, indicating a regional consensus on a new approach to Syria.
“The sanctions were brutal and crippling and served as an important — really an important function — nevertheless, at the time,” Trump stated. “But now it’s their time to shine. So I say, ‘Good luck, Syria.’ Show us something very special.”
According to CNN, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio is expected to meet with Syria’s Foreign Minister in Turkey later this week, taking a key diplomatic step toward renewed ties.
The Assad regime, which crumbled in December 2024 during the final phase of the Biden administration, had been under heavy international sanctions for more than a decade due to its role in civil war and human rights violations.
Trump signalled that the US is ready to support Syria’s political transition, expressing confidence in the new leadership.
“The country’s new leadership will hopefully succeed in stabilising the country in keeping peace,” Trump said, conveying a message of support.
Syria’s newly installed President Ahmad al-Sharaa—a former militant leader who cut ties with al-Qaeda in 2016—has been seen as a controversial but pivotal figure in Syria’s new post-Assad era. The US Center for Naval Analyses has confirmed his past links to Jabhat al-Nusra, though he has since distanced himself from extremist ideology.
According to White House sources, Trump is expected to informally greet President al-Sharaa in Riyadh on Wednesday, signaling Washington’s readiness to engage with Damascus directly.
Trump’s Middle East visit, which began on May 13, includes stops in Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates, and appears focused on redefining US strategy in the region following a major political shift in Syria.