During his visit to Riyadh, US President Donald Trump announced the removal of all American sanctions imposed on Syria since 2019—a move signaling a profound shift in Washington’s foreign policy toward Damascus.
Trump framed the decision as an opportunity “to give Syria a chance to thrive,” clarifying that this is the first step toward normalizing relations with the new Syrian regime. The move aligns with the Trump administration’s broader regional strategy, which is grounded in a business-oriented approach and prioritizes stability over military engagement.
In Damascus, the decision was met with widespread public celebration and satisfaction. Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shibani called the announcement a “historic turning point,” and state media portrayed it as the end of an era of “national suffering and economic siege.”
Today (May 14), a historic meeting took place between Trump and Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa, joined by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Turkish President Erdoğan, who participated via video call. Trump reiterated his expectations from the Syrian regime: joining the Abraham Accords, expelling foreign fighters and Palestinian terrorists, assisting in the renewed fight against ISIS, and taking responsibility for ISIS detention centers in Syria. It should be noted that this time there was no mention of prior conditions related to the establishment of an inclusive, moderate government or protections for minority rights.
This represents a significant achievement for al-Sharaa—restoring Syria’s regional and international standing in less than six months—an accomplishment likely to boost his domestic legitimacy despite underlying ethnic and political tensions. However, behind this diplomatic success lie considerable challenges: lifting the sanctions and allowing foreign capital may spark internal power struggles over resources, revive dormant corruption networks, and increase public pressure around long-suppressed issues—especially minority rights, freedom of expression, and political reform.
It remains to be seen how this move will affect al-Sharaa’s rule—whether he will honor his commitments to stabilize Syria and lead it toward recovery and political reform now that the world is watching, or whether, having secured his goals, he will consolidate a centralized regime led by hardline elements.
From an Israeli perspective, these developments raise significant concerns. The Syrian case reflects Trump’s growing tendency to pursue unilateral initiatives that do not necessarily consider Israeli interests and highlights the rising influence of Turkey and Saudi Arabia in shaping the regional order. Israel still retains military leverage in Syria, which should be strategically translated into security arrangements and long-term political gains through engagement with the new regime.
During his visit to Riyadh, US President Donald Trump announced the removal of all American sanctions imposed on Syria since 2019—a move signaling a profound shift in Washington’s foreign policy toward Damascus.
Trump framed the decision as an opportunity “to give Syria a chance to thrive,” clarifying that this is the first step toward normalizing relations with the new Syrian regime. The move aligns with the Trump administration’s broader regional strategy, which is grounded in a business-oriented approach and prioritizes stability over military engagement.
In Damascus, the decision was met with widespread public celebration and satisfaction. Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shibani called the announcement a “historic turning point,” and state media portrayed it as the end of an era of “national suffering and economic siege.”
Today (May 14), a historic meeting took place between Trump and Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa, joined by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Turkish President Erdoğan, who participated via video call. Trump reiterated his expectations from the Syrian regime: joining the Abraham Accords, expelling foreign fighters and Palestinian terrorists, assisting in the renewed fight against ISIS, and taking responsibility for ISIS detention centers in Syria. It should be noted that this time there was no mention of prior conditions related to the establishment of an inclusive, moderate government or protections for minority rights.
This represents a significant achievement for al-Sharaa—restoring Syria’s regional and international standing in less than six months—an accomplishment likely to boost his domestic legitimacy despite underlying ethnic and political tensions. However, behind this diplomatic success lie considerable challenges: lifting the sanctions and allowing foreign capital may spark internal power struggles over resources, revive dormant corruption networks, and increase public pressure around long-suppressed issues—especially minority rights, freedom of expression, and political reform.
It remains to be seen how this move will affect al-Sharaa’s rule—whether he will honor his commitments to stabilize Syria and lead it toward recovery and political reform now that the world is watching, or whether, having secured his goals, he will consolidate a centralized regime led by hardline elements.
From an Israeli perspective, these developments raise significant concerns. The Syrian case reflects Trump’s growing tendency to pursue unilateral initiatives that do not necessarily consider Israeli interests and highlights the rising influence of Turkey and Saudi Arabia in shaping the regional order. Israel still retains military leverage in Syria, which should be strategically translated into security arrangements and long-term political gains through engagement with the new regime.