Trump Lifts Syria Sanctions to Help Rebuild Civil War-Hit Nation
In a significant move, US President Donald Trump’s administration has issued orders to lift sanctions on Syria, aiming to ease the rules to help the war-torn nation recover from a long and devastating civil war. The decision was welcomed by Syria as a positive step towards rebuilding and reconciliation.
According to reports, the Treasury Department issued the orders on May 23, 2025, following Trump’s promise to ease the sanctions. The move is seen as a significant development in the ongoing efforts to promote peace and stability in Syria, which has been ravaged by civil war since 2011.
The sanctions, which were imposed on Syria in 2011, aimed to pressure the government of Bashar al-Assad to cease its brutal crackdown on protesters and to implement political reforms. However, the sanctions have had a devastating impact on the Syrian people, causing widespread poverty, hunger, and displacement.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio described the move as an opportunity to promote peace and stability in Syria, stating that the lifting of sanctions would allow for greater engagement with the Syrian government and international efforts to rebuild the country.
“We believe that this is a chance to promote peace and stability in Syria, and to help the Syrian people rebuild their country,” Rubio said in a statement. “We are committed to supporting the Syrian people and working towards a peaceful and prosperous future for the country.”
Syria’s government welcomed the move, saying that it was a positive step towards rebuilding and reconciliation. The Syrian Foreign Ministry expressed gratitude to the US administration for the decision, stating that it would help to alleviate the suffering of the Syrian people.
“This decision is a positive step towards rebuilding and reconciliation in Syria,” the Foreign Ministry said in a statement. “We appreciate the efforts of the US administration to ease the sanctions and to support the Syrian people in their efforts to rebuild their country.”
The lifting of sanctions is expected to have significant implications for Syria’s economy, which has been severely damaged by the civil war. The country’s currency, the Syrian pound, has lost over 90% of its value since the start of the war, and the economy is heavily reliant on imports.
The move is also seen as a significant development in the ongoing efforts to address the humanitarian crisis in Syria, which has displaced millions of people and caused widespread human suffering. The UN estimates that over 13 million people in Syria are in need of humanitarian assistance, including food, shelter, and medical care.
The decision to lift sanctions is seen as a significant shift in US policy towards Syria, which had previously been critical of the Assad government. However, in recent years, the US has begun to shift its focus towards supporting international efforts to rebuild Syria and promoting peace and stability in the region.
The lifting of sanctions is seen as a positive development by many observers, who believe that it will help to create a more conducive environment for peace and reconciliation in Syria. However, others have expressed concerns that the move could undermine international efforts to hold the Assad government accountable for its human rights abuses.
In conclusion, the decision by the US administration to lift sanctions on Syria is a significant development that has significant implications for the war-torn nation. While the move is seen as a positive step towards rebuilding and reconciliation, it also raises concerns about the impact on international efforts to hold the Assad government accountable for its human rights abuses.
Source:
https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/us-takes-first-steps-that-ease-sanctions-syria-2025-05-23/
