During a recent speech in Saudi Arabia, President Donald Trump made a surprising announcement: he is lifting sanctions on Syria. This decision, which he described as a chance for Syria to achieve greatness, was met with applause from the audience. Among those present was Saudi Arabia’s de facto leader, Mohammed bin Salman, who appeared visibly grateful.
Trump’s announcement marks a significant change in U.S. policy towards Syria. For years, the United States imposed strict sanctions aimed at weakening the Assad regime due to its human rights abuses. Critics of the sanctions argued that while they targeted the government, they also caused hardship for ordinary Syrians, leaving the ruling elite unaffected.
The President is in the Middle East for a four-day tour, which is his first major foreign trip of his second term. Notably, Saudi Arabia was also the first country he visited during his first term.
On Wednesday, Trump is set to meet with Ahmad al-Sharaa, the new Syrian leader known previously as Abu Mohammed al-Jolani. Al-Sharaa leads the militant group HTS, which took control of the Syrian government last December. His administration is now seeking to gain international recognition.
This shift in policy is likely to reshape the dynamics of the region and could have far-reaching implications for both Syria and U.S. foreign relations.