U.S. President Donald Trump has announced plans to ease longstanding sanctions on Syria, attributing the decision to recent discussions with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. The announcement was made during Trump’s diplomatic tour of the Gulf region, where he emphasized a shift in U.S. foreign policy towards economic engagement and regional stability.
“President Erdoğan made a compelling case during our recent talks,” Trump stated at the U.S.-Saudi Investment Forum in Riyadh. “Other respected partners in the Middle East have also urged us to lift the sanctions. We will move forward with easing them.”
The decision marks a significant policy shift aimed at aiding Syria’s post-war reconstruction following the ousting of Bashar al-Assad. In exchange, Syria has offered access to oil resources, reconstruction contracts, and the potential construction of a Trump Tower in Damascus.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio is scheduled to meet with Syria’s new Foreign Minister, Esad Hasan Shaybani, later this week in Turkey. The meeting underscores Turkey’s pivotal role in facilitating dialogue and fostering regional cooperation.
Rubio has emphasized the need for an inclusive political transition in Syria, highlighting the importance of protecting minority rights and preventing the country from becoming a source of international terrorism. In a recent call with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, Rubio reiterated the shared objective of supporting a stable and unified Syria that poses no threat to the United States, Turkey, or the region.
As the United States recalibrates its approach in the region, Turkey’s role as a key NATO ally and regional powerbroker remains central to fostering peace and economic development.
