President Donald Trump has lifted sanctions on Syria, delivering on his pledge to give the war-torn country a chance to rebuild.
The move is part of Trump’s vision of peace for the Middle East, which he laid out during a major foreign trip in which he shook hands with Syria’s new president, former jihadist Ahmed al-Sharaa.
The end of sanctions is a major shift in U.S. foreign policy, which had long sought to isolate Syria during the reign of fallen dictator Bashar al-Assad.
A White House announcement said the move is meant to “support the country’s path to stability and peace.”
While removing most sanctions on Syria’s economy, Trump is keeping sanctions on Assad and his allies.
Syria was devastated by more than a decade of civil war that finally ended with Assad’s overthrow in December.
The Trump administration wants to see Syria protect religious minorities, keep Syria free of terrorists, and normalize ties with Israel.
For years, Syria had hostile relations with its neighbor during the Iran-backed Assad regime.
In the executive order, Trump said:
“The United States is committed to supporting a Syria that is stable, unified, and at peace with itself and its neighbors.
“A united Syria that does not offer a safe haven for terrorist organizations and ensures the security of its religious and ethnic minorities will support regional security and prosperity.”
Trump’s order directs Secretary of State Marco Rubio to “review” the terrorist designation of Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS).
HTS is a former al-Qaeda affiliate that played a principal role in the successful rebellion against Assad.
Trump, in a reflection of his transactional, hard-nosed approach to global affairs, praised President al-Sharaa, who led HTS, as “tough” during their meeting in May.
The White House had started easing pressure on Syria in May.
At the time, Trump met with al-Sharaa in Saudi Arabia and announced an end to sanctions.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said:
“This is another promise made and promise kept by this president to promote peace and stability in the region.”
The Islamist origins of the new regime have added to concerns about the status of minority communities in Syria.
The country has a long history of sectarian violence.
Since Assad fell, there have been massacres against the Druze, a minority group that formed the ruling elite under Assad’s reign.
Attacks against Christians have also increased, with a suicide bombing in June killing at least 25 at a church in Damascus.
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