It’s Syria’s Time to Shine”: Trump’s Sanction Reversal Promises a New Dawn

In a stunning policy flip-flop, US President Donald Trump today declared that he will remove all US sanctions from Syria, saying it is time for the war-torn nation to "have a chance at greatness." Addressing a high-profile investment conference in Riyadh, Trump said, "I will be issuing the removal of sanctions against Syria in order to give them a chance at greatness. It's their time to shine. We're removing them all. Good luck Syria, make us something very special."

 

The action follows the fall of the Assad regime at the end of last year and the new Damascus government under President Ahmad al-Sharaa. Trump's move follows meetings with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, both of whom asked the US to align with Syria's new government as a move towards regional stability.

 

"The sanctions were harsh and debilitating and served a really significant purpose back then, but now it's [the new Syrian government's] turn to shine," Trump stated, hoping that Syria was now able to seek peace and prosperity after decades of war.

 

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio will sit down with Syria's foreign minister in Turkey later this week to talk about additional steps towards the normalization of relations. The White House also confirmed that Trump will sit down with President al-Sharaa in Riyadh on Wednesday.

 

Trump's declaration is a turning point in US foreign policy and will have far-reaching implications for the region, with Gulf leaders embracing the new Syrian regime and calling on the US to do the same.

 

Source: Reuters