During a significant address in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on Tuesday, President Donald Trump proclaimed that the United States would lift all sanctions imposed on Syria.
“I will be ordering the cessation of sanctions against Syria in order to give them a chance at greatness,” Trump stated to an enthusiastic audience as part of his four-day trip in the Middle East.
Trump expressed hope for a brighter future for Syria, which has dealt with extensive suffering and loss over the years. “There is a new government that will hopefully succeed in stabilizing the country and keeping peace. That’s what we want to see,” he added, emphasizing the importance of U.S.-Syria relations during his speech addressing both his presidency and U.S. engagement with the region.
He remarked, “In Syria, they’ve had their share of travesty, war, killing many years. That’s why my administration has already taken the first steps toward restoring normal relations between the United States and Syria for the first time in more than a decade.”
Since being designated a State Sponsor of Terrorism in 1979, Syria has experienced a series of additional sanctions, imposed in 2004 and again in 2011, following the violent crackdown on anti-government protests under then-President Bashar al-Assad.
The past 14 years have seen the country ravaged by civil strife, sectarian conflicts, and terrorist activities, including the Islamic State’s control over parts of Syria in 2014 and the subsequent international military efforts to eliminate the extremist organization.
The overthrow of the Assad regime in December 2024 by anti-Assad militia groups surprised many around the world, creating an opportunity for potential change in the war-torn nation. The new president, Ahmed al-Sharaa—a self-described reformed former Al Qaeda member—currently heads Syria’s transitional governing body.
Trump characterized the sanctions as “brutal and crippling,” arguing that they were no longer effective. “Now, it’s their time to shine,” he stated, expressing optimism about Syria’s future. “We’re taking them all off.”
“So I say, Good luck Syria. Show us something very special, like they’ve done, frankly, in Saudi Arabia,” he concluded.
