The administration of U.S. President Donald Trump has taken its first concrete step to ease sanctions on Syria, signaling a sharp departure from previous policy.
On Friday, the Treasury Department announced broad authorizations aimed at facilitating investment and private sector activity in Syria, describing the move as part of the administration’s “America First” strategy.
This action was accompanied by a temporary waiver issued by the U.S. State Department to the Caesar Syria Civilian Protection Act, a 2019 law that had imposed sweeping sanctions on the Syrian regime of Bashar al-Assad for human rights abuses.
The waiver aims to enable foreign and regional partners to support essential infrastructure services such as electricity, water, and sanitation — crucial for humanitarian and economic recovery.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio emphasized the waiver’s role in enabling Syria’s economic resurgence and effective aid delivery. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent echoed this sentiment, stating the relief is intended to place Syria on a “path to a bright, prosperous, and stable future.”
The move follows President Trump’s unexpected pledge earlier this month, during a Middle East tour, to end U.S. sanctions imposed under Assad’s rule. Speaking in Riyadh, Trump had announced: “It’s their time to shine. We’re taking them all off.”
The policy shift coincides with Syria’s transitional phase following the ouster of Assad and the rise of new leadership under Ahmed al-Sharaa.
Al-Sharaa, who previously headed the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) group, was removed from the U.S. terror list shortly before meeting with Trump.
Between 2011 and 2024, Syria endured 13 years of civil war, leaving over 650,000 dead and incurring over $442 billion in economic losses, according to UN and human rights data. The sanctions, inherited from Assad’s regime, continued to choke Syria’s economic revival even after the regime’s fall.
While Friday’s measures are a significant development, key restrictions remain, particularly those involving transactions linked to Russia, Iran, and North Korea. Fully dismantling the Caesar Act’s provisions would require congressional action, but the administration retains authority to issue temporary waivers.
The European Union also moved to lift its sanctions earlier this week, signaling a broader international pivot toward supporting Syria’s reconstruction and reintegration.
