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.