(MENAFN) Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa met with US envoy Thomas Barrack on Monday to discuss ways to deepen cooperation between Syria and the United States. A statement from the presidency confirmed that the talks, held in the Syrian capital, addressed both the evolving situation in Syria and the broader region. The discussions also focused on enhancing dialogue and forging stronger ties to promote regional security and stability.

Accompanying Barrack were Senator Jeanne Shaheen and Congressman Joe Wilson, who participated in the talks. The meeting comes just days after the US Treasury removed Syria from the Federal Register, with the decision set to take effect on Tuesday, as reported by media

This visit follows a June executive order by US President Donald Trump, which fully lifted sanctions on Syria, signaling the beginning of a potential new chapter in Syria’s relations with the international community.

The move is generating significant interest, particularly given Syria's economic plight, which has seen a staggering $800 billion in losses over the past 15 years, according to the UN Development Programme (UNDP).

The UNDP further notes that Syria’s GDP has halved since the onset of the civil war in 2011, while the poverty rate has skyrocketed from 33% to 90%. Moreover, a shocking 75% of the Syrian population is now reliant on humanitarian aid, which includes critical needs such as healthcare, education, food, water, energy, and housing.

Bashar al-Assad, who ruled Syria for nearly 25 years, fled to Russia in December, marking the end of the Baath Party’s long reign, which began in 1963. In January, a transitional government, led by Sharaa, was established in a move toward potential political transformation.

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