In a surprising move during his visit to Saudi Arabia, President Donald Trump announced the immediate lifting of U.S. sanctions against Syria, marking a significant shift in American foreign policy towards the war-torn nation. The announcement came during a speech delivered to a gathering of Saudi dignitaries, where Trump emphasized the need to give the Syrian people an opportunity for a fresh start.
“They’ve had their share of travesty, war, and killing. Many years. That’s why my administration has already taken the first steps toward restoring normal relations between the United States and Syria for the first time in more than a decade,” Trump stated, eliciting applause from the audience.
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The decision was reportedly influenced by discussions with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who had both advocated for a change in policy. Trump revealed that Secretary Marco Rubio would be meeting with the Syrian foreign ministry in Turkey to further discuss the normalization of relations.
“After discussing the situation in Syria with the crown prince, your crown prince and also, with President [Recip Tayyip] Erdogan of Turkey, who called me the other day and asked for a very similar thing, among others and friends of mine, people who I have a lot of respect for in the Middle East. I will be ordering the cessation of sanctions against Syria in order to give them a chance at greatness,” Trump said.
Trump acknowledged the severity of the previous sanctions, describing them as “brutal and crippling,” but asserted that the time had come for a new approach. “Nevertheless, at the time, but now it’s their time, it’s their time to shine. We are taking them all off. I think they are going to have, based on the people and spirit and everything else I’m hearing about, I say good luck, Syria, show us something very special.”
The announcement followed the signing of a substantial investment deal with Saudi Arabia, valued at over $600 billion. Trump’s trip to the Middle East included stops in Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Qatar.
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This policy reversal marks a notable departure from Trump’s previous stance on Syria. During his first term, he authorized military strikes against Syrian forces in response to the use of chemical weapons by the Assad regime in 2017 and 2018.
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