Trump administration moves to ease sanctions on Syria following presidential pledge

The Trump administration on May 23 formally announced steps to ease longstanding US sanctions on Syria, fulfilling a pledge President Donald Trump made earlier this month to help the war-torn country recover after over a decade of civil conflict.

In a move that marks a significant shift in US policy, the Treasury Department issued a general license — designated GL25 — authorising a broad range of transactions involving the interim Syrian government led by President Ahmed al-Sharaa, Caliber.Az reports, citing international media outlets.

The authorisation also includes Syria’s central bank, state-owned enterprises, and a number of other previously sanctioned entities.

According to a Treasury Department statement, GL25 “authorises transactions prohibited by the Syrian Sanctions Regulations, effectively lifting sanctions on Syria.” The move, the department said, will “enable new investment and private sector activity consistent with the President’s America First strategy.”

Simultaneously, Secretary of State Marco Rubio issued a 180-day national security waiver under the Caesar Syria Civilian Protection Act, a law originally passed to punish the Assad regime. The waiver aims to prevent US sanctions from obstructing infrastructure investment, the delivery of essential services, such as electricity, water, and sanitation, and to ensure continued humanitarian operations in Syria.

“Today’s actions represent the first step in delivering on the President’s vision of a new relationship between Syria and the United States,” Rubio said in a statement. He emphasised that President Trump expects reciprocal steps from the Syrian government in exchange for sanctions relief.

Following Trump’s meeting with Sharaa last week in Riyadh, the White House stated that the President had set forth a list of conditions for continued US engagement. These include the withdrawal of all foreign militants from Syrian territory, the deportation of individuals Trump described as “Palestinian terrorists,” and Syrian cooperation with US efforts to prevent a resurgence of ISIS.

“President Trump is providing the Syrian government with the chance to promote peace and stability, both within Syria and in Syria’s relations with its neighbors,” Rubio added.

The majority of current US sanctions on Syria were imposed in 2011, targeting the regime of then-President Bashar al-Assad, key military and political figures, and Syrian financial institutions, following the outbreak of civil war. Ahmed al-Sharaa — formerly known under the alias Abu Muhammad al-Jawlani — led anti-Assad militias that succeeded in deposing Assad in December, and now heads the country’s transitional government.

GL25 names Sharaa among the newly authorized individuals and entities. The general license also includes permissions to engage with Syrian Arab Airlines, the Central Bank of Syria, several national banks, multiple state-owned oil and gas firms, and even the Four Seasons Hotel in Damascus, which had been subject to US restrictions.

Trump’s decision to lift the sanctions — announced unexpectedly last week — reportedly followed a request by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman during consultations in Riyadh. The announcement marks one of the most significant changes in US policy toward Syria in years.

While the easing of sanctions may open the door to humanitarian groups and foreign investors, the US government cautioned that risks remain. Multiple overlapping sanctions remain in place, cutting Syria off from the international financial system and restricting many imports. Additionally, the possibility that sanctions could be reinstated in the future may still deter some private-sector actors from investing.

The US first designated Syria a state sponsor of terrorism in 1979, and over the decades has added numerous sanctions, particularly in response to the Assad regime’s violent crackdown on protestors beginning in 2011.

The administration has framed this new policy as an opportunity for Syria’s new leadership to build stability, restore essential services, and pursue peace, but it remains contingent on the government in Damascus taking actions that align with Washington’s expectations.

By Tamilla Hasanova