Trump says he’ll lift US sanctions on Syria
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The news: US President Donald Trump said he would lift all US sanctions on war-ravaged Syria after the toppling of former President Bashar al-Assad by a rebel alliance led by Ahmed al-Sharaa.
He said the decision followed discussions with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
Trump is visiting Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates this week.
What they said: Speaking at a Saudi-US investment forum in Riyadh, Trump said, “I will be ordering the cessation of sanctions against Syria in order to give them a chance at greatness."
“It’s their time to shine. We’re taking them all off,” Trump added.
The White House confirmed Trump would meet briefly with Syrian President Sharaa - the former al-Qaeda commander whose rebel alliance overthrew Bashar al-Assad in December - during his visit to Riyadh Wednesday.
The context: Sharaa was previously the leader of al-Qaeda’s official wing in Syria and spent five years in a US prison in Iraq.
His rise marks a turning point for a country devastated by over a decade of war and economic collapse, with Western powers weighing engagement despite his militant past and the presence of Islamist factions in his ranks.
Syria’s Foreign Minister Asaad Al-Shaibani called the move a “turning point” and said Trump “can achieve an historic peace agreement.”
Trump is touring the Gulf to secure up to USD1 trillion in investment and promote his image as a regional dealmaker. He praised Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman as a “friend” and credited him and President Erdogan for prompting the Syria decision.
The sources: The New York Times, Bloomberg
