US attempts to impose Trump’s ‘vision’ for Syria
(MENAFN) The Biden administration, following President Donald Trump’s direction, has begun to shift US policy on Syria by relaxing key sanctions and naming a new envoy to engage with Damascus. The move follows Trump’s recent meeting with Syria’s interim leader, Ahmed al-Sharaa—better known as Abu Mohammad al-Julani, former leader of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), an Islamist group previously linked to Al-Qaeda. Al-Sharaa gained power after the fall of President Bashar Assad last year.
Speaking at an investment summit in Riyadh, Trump declared the end of US sanctions on Syria, saying it was time to give the country a chance to rebuild. In response, the US Treasury issued General License 25 (GL25) on Friday, allowing previously banned transactions with the Syrian government and major sectors including banking, energy, telecommunications, and aviation.
Simultaneously, Secretary of State Marco Rubio issued a 180-day suspension of key provisions of the Caesar Syria Civilian Protection Act. This allows US involvement in infrastructure and humanitarian projects. Rubio called the move the first step in advancing Trump’s broader policy for Syria, even acknowledging concerns about Syria’s new leadership, whose background “didn’t pass the FBI’s checks.”
Rubio emphasized that despite ethical concerns, supporting Syria’s transitional government was necessary to prevent further regional destabilization. He also suggested that human rights considerations may be applied differently depending on the region.
Earlier this year, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov criticized Western sanctions on Syria, saying they primarily harmed civilians and should be lifted.
To manage the evolving US-Syria relationship, Trump appointed Tom Barrack, the current US ambassador to Turkey and a longtime ally, as the new Special Envoy for Syria. Barrack said Washington's goal is to integrate Syria into a peaceful Middle East, hinting at the possible reopening of the US embassy in Damascus.
However, most sanctions relief remains temporary. GL25 is set to expire in six months unless extended, and permanent repeal of the Caesar Act and related sanctions would require congressional approval.
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