The U.S. President Donald Trump announced on Tuesday that the United States will lift sanctions on Syria, marking a major policy shift following the fall of the former regime, the NY Times reported. The announcement came during a business forum in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, where Trump is on his first major state visit of his second term.
The move offers an economic lifeline to Syria, long isolated by sanctions and devastated by 14 years of civil war. Trump met newly installed Syrian President Ahmed al-Shara, who led the rebel coalition that toppled Assad in December.
The decision follows discussions with key allies, including Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
Critics of U.S. sanctions argue they have exacerbated humanitarian suffering. Lifting them may now open doors for international investment and reconstruction in Syria, as European leaders also begin easing their restrictions on the war-torn country.
