Trump to Syria: "Time to Shine" — Sanctions Set to End

In a striking policy shift with major geopolitical implications, President Donald Trump announced Tuesday that the United States will begin lifting its long-standing sanctions on Syria. Speaking at the Saudi-US Investment Forum in Riyadh, Trump declared that the time had come to give the war-torn country “a chance at greatness” following the collapse of the Assad regime late last year.

💬 “Syria’s been through hell,” Trump told the crowd of global investors and regional leaders. “But now it’s their time to shine.”

The decision, Trump said, was made after high-level discussions with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. He added that Secretary of State Marco Rubio is slated to meet with Syria’s foreign minister in Turkey later this week to begin the process of restoring diplomatic ties — a relationship that has been severed for over a decade.

🕯️ A Turning Point for Syria

The announcement marks a historic moment. Sanctions on Syria have been in place since the early 2010s, targeting Bashar al-Assad’s regime over war crimes, chemical weapon usage, and human rights abuses during the country’s brutal civil war. Those measures, although aimed at isolating the regime, also crippled Syria’s economy and caused ripple effects throughout the region.

The fall of Assad’s government in December 2024 during the final year of the Biden administration opened the door to a potential reengagement with the international community. Since then, Syria’s new leadership — under President Ahmad al-Sharaa — has appealed to the global powers to help lift the devastating economic restrictions that continue to stifle recovery.

Trump signaled that while the sanctions once served a “very important function,” the circumstances had shifted dramatically. “It’s time to give them a real shot. The war is over. Let them rebuild. Let them prosper,” he said.

🤔 Who is Ahmad al-Sharaa?

The new Syrian president is not without controversy. Al-Sharaa is a former leader of Jabhat al-Nusra, a militant group that once pledged allegiance to al Qaeda. Although he formally cut ties with the terror organization in 2016, his past remains a major point of concern for Western analysts and policy experts.

Still, the Trump administration appears ready to extend an olive branch. A senior White House official confirmed that Trump may hold an informal greeting with al-Sharaa during his stay in Riyadh — a symbolic gesture that could mark the beginning of a new chapter in U.S.-Syria relations.

🔍 “We’re watching him closely,” a State Department source noted. “But the reality is, Syria needs stability — and so does the region.”

🌍 Regional Impact & Political Reaction

Trump’s announcement sent shockwaves through diplomatic circles. Middle East analysts say the decision could reshape the regional power dynamics, especially as Iran’s influence wanes and Turkey seeks a more dominant role in post-war Syria.

Reactions back home in the U.S. have been mixed. Supporters of the move argue that lifting sanctions is a pragmatic step toward regional peace and economic recovery. Critics, however, warn that engaging with a government led by a former militant leader risks legitimizing extremism.

🗨️ Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) tweeted: “Lifting sanctions without strong democratic guarantees in place is risky, short-sighted, and could backfire.”

📈 What Comes Next?

The Trump administration has not yet laid out a detailed roadmap for lifting the sanctions, but Rubio’s meeting in Turkey is expected to be the first of many diplomatic steps. Trade and investment incentives may follow, particularly in infrastructure and energy — sectors critical to Syria’s reconstruction.

Trump ended his remarks in Riyadh with an optimistic call to action:
“Syria, the world is watching. Show us something very special.”

With the geopolitical chessboard in flux and the scars of war still fresh across Syria, only time will tell whether this gamble will bring about peace — or new complications.