US plans to lift sanctions on Syria: Trump

U.S. President Donald Trump said Tuesday (May 13) that he plans to lift all sanctions on Syria, and doing so will give the country "a chance at greatness".

The 78-year-old president was speaking at an investment forum in Saudi Arabia during his Middle East tour, according to CNN and Aljazeera.

"Syria, they’ve had their share of travesty, war, killing in 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,” Trump said, as quoted by CNN.

“The sanctions were brutal and crippling and served as an important — really an important function — nevertheless, at the time. But now it’s their time to shine," he added.

He ended his remarks by saying, "Good luck, Syria. Show us something very special.”

A shift towards a more constructive international stance on Syria

The move signals a shift in U.S. policy towards Syria, where sanctions had been directed against former President Bashar al-Assad's regime during the years of war, observed Aljazeera.

The U.S. has designated Syria as a State Sponsor of Terrorism since 1979, added sanctions and restrictions in 2004, and imposed additional sanctions in 2011 when the Syrian civil war began.

The conflict resulted in hundreds of thousands of deaths and displaced millions.

However, Assad's regime was toppled in Dec. 2024, leading to the rebels gaining control of the capital and the country, and establishing a successor government.

Commenting on Syria's interim government, Trump said in Riyadh: “There’s a new government that will hopefully succeed in stabilising the country and keeping peace."

Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani welcomed the decision on X (formerly Twitter), saying that it "marks a pivotal turning point" for the war-torn country.

"We regard this announcement in an extremely positive light. It reflects a shift towards a more constructive international stance on Syria."

Shortly after the news, Syrians have since taken to the streets to publicly celebrate the lifting of the sanctions, as seen in videos circulating on social media.

Four-day trip to the Middle East

Trump is currently on a four-day trip to the Middle East, the first major overseas trip of his second term.

During his trip, Trump will be visiting Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Qatar, reported The New York Times.

Trump has also reportedly agreed to an informal meeting with the new Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on Wednesday (May 14), according to CNN, citing an unnamed White House official.

On Tuesday, Trump announced Saudi Arabia's US$600 billion (S$781 billion) commitment to invest in the U.S., according to a White House fact sheet.

The U.S. and Saudi Arabia also signed the largest defence agreement in history, nearly US$142 billion (S$185 billion).

Top image via The White House/Facebook