US Lifts Syria Sanctions In Landmark Move

According to a statement released on Friday, May 23, by the U.S. Department of the Treasury-reported by Agence France-Presse (AFP)-the new policy allows investment, financial services, and trade in Syrian oil and energy products.

Scott Bassnett, U.S. Secretary of the Treasury, said in the statement,“Syria must remain on the path to peace and stability. We hope today's actions lay the foundation for a brighter, more prosperous future for the Syrian people.”

This unexpected development follows a recent visit by U.S. President Donald Trump to the Middle East, during which he reportedly responded to requests from Turkish and Saudi leaders to end economic restrictions on Syria.

Under the new policy, companies and individuals may now engage with the Syrian government, previously sanctioned entities, and firms operating in the country's energy sector-permissions that were long prohibited under U.S. law.

The United States had imposed sweeping sanctions against Syria after the outbreak of civil war in 2011. These sanctions had effectively frozen financial and reconstruction efforts until the fall of President Bashar al-Assad's regime, which the U.S. previously viewed as illegitimate.

Analysts suggest this shift may signal a new U.S. approach to Middle East diplomacy, one that acknowledges regional power dynamics and seeks pragmatic engagement over prolonged isolation. However, human rights organizations remain cautious, warning that such decisions must be paired with accountability mechanisms to prevent impunity for wartime abuses.

Whether this policy change leads to meaningful reconstruction or renewed geopolitical competition remains to be seen. Still, the lifting of sanctions opens a significant new chapter in U.S.-Syria relations.

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