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US and EU Lift Sanctions on Syria in Effort to Stabilize Fragile Transitional Government

With Syria's economy in ruins and its interim leadership facing collapse, international sanctions relief aims to support reconstruction and prevent renewed conflict.

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European Union High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Kaja Kallas, arrives to attend the UK-EU Summit at Lancaster House on May 19, 2025 in London, England.  Carl Court/Pool via REUTERS
European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas speaks with the media as she arrives for a meeting of EU defense ministers at the European Council building in Brussels, Tuesday, May 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Virginia Mayo)
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Overview

  • President Donald Trump announced the lifting of all US sanctions on Syria following his meeting with interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa in Riyadh last week.
  • The European Union followed suit, lifting economic sanctions while maintaining targeted restrictions on former Assad regime figures.
  • US Secretary of State Marco Rubio warned that Syria’s transitional government could collapse within weeks without sustained international support.
  • Syria’s interim leadership, led by al-Sharaa—a former militant with ties to al-Qaeda—faces skepticism over its past but has pledged inclusivity, minority rights, and governance reforms.
  • Regional powers like Saudi Arabia and Turkey played key roles in lobbying for sanctions relief, aiming to stabilize Syria and address issues like refugee repatriation and regional security.