Making Peace and Deals: Trump Lifts Syria Sanctions, Deepens Middle East Ties

The United States will lift sanctions on Syria and deepen ties with Middle Eastern allies, US President Donald Trump announced, as he began a four-day regional tour this week aimed at attracting investment and reinforcing US alliances, the Washington Post reported. 

On Wednesday, Trump met interim Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa – a former rebel once linked to al-Qaeda who until December was the subject of a $10 million bounty – and described him as a “tough guy” who “has a real shot at pulling it together,” NPR wrote.  

That followed a surprise announcement Tuesday that the US would lift its longstanding sanctions on Syria, following requests from Saudi and Turkish leaders. The sanctions were originally imposed in response to former President Bashar Assad’s brutal crackdown on all opposition during Syria’s 13-year civil war. Though Assad was ousted late last year, the sanctions remained in place under the transitional government led by al-Sharaa. 

Trump framed the sanctions relief as key to stabilizing Syria and reducing its dependency on Russia, which continues to host Assad and operate military bases in the country. 

The move is expected to unlock Gulf financing for Syria’s reconstruction. Former US Ambassador to Syria Robert Ford told the BBC the decision is “absolutely vital” for its recovery. Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Shibani called it a “new start.” 

Trump also encouraged al-Sharaa to join the Abraham Accords, which in 2020 normalized relations between Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates and Israel. Though no agreement was reached, al-Sharaa’s team signaled potential openness to such normalization. 

Trump’s visit, which began Tuesday in the Saudi capital, Riyadh, included a visit with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and an address to a Saudi investment forum accompanied by top American business leaders. 

Declaring the US-Saudi partnership to be “more powerful than ever,” Trump announced a $142 billion arms deal and additional investments that Crown Prince Mohammed said could total $1 trillion, according to the BBC. 

At the forum, Trump raised questions about a broader shift in US foreign policy. He rejected past US interventionism, saying “nation builders wrecked far more nations than they built,” but pledged to use force when necessary to defend allies. 

He reiterated opposition to a nuclear Iran but expressed readiness to strike a deal, urging Tehran to engage in ongoing talks. 

Observers noted that Trump’s itinerary notably excluded Israel – a move likely to frustrate Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who has warned against easing pressure on Damascus and Tehran. 

Trump’s tour, which included a stop in Qatar Wednesday where the US and Qatar inked deals worth at least $1.2 trillion, will conclude in the UAE.