Washington, 1 July (H.S.): On June 30, President Donald Trump signed an executive order to lift economic sanctions on Syria, aiming to foster stability and peace, according to White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt. This decision aligns with Trump’s previous commitment to Syria’s interim leader, Ahmed al-Sharaa, made during their meeting in Saudi Arabia in May. It marks a significant shift in US-Syria relations since the era of George W. Bush. US Treasury’s acting undersecretary Brad Smith stated that the order seeks to reintegrate Syria into the international financial system, encouraging regional and US investment.

However, certain sanctions remain, as the US continues to classify Syria as a state sponsor of terrorism and the al-Sharaa-led group as a terrorist organization. Sanctions on terrorist groups and those associated with the drug Captagon also stay in effect. The executive order does not lift sanctions on former President Bashar Assad, his officials, and military activities, as broader Congressional sanctions require legal repeal for any changes.

Notably, while the Trump administration has previously issued temporary waivers under the Caesar Act, these can only be permanently eliminated through legislation. In May, the U.S. had already granted Syria some exemptions, signaling the beginning of a thaw in relations following years of severe sanctions due to the ongoing civil war and perceived threats from Syria’s actions, including its occupation of Lebanon and weapons programs.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Indrani Sarkar