Syria’s long and torturous path through a devastating civil war and paralyzing international sanctions might soon take a major turn toward the positive. On the next day, the United States President Donald Trump announced his intentions to remove all sanctions that were placed on Syria. This ruling represents a radical departure from Washington’s decades-long policy. This decision is part of a broader move to stabilize the war-torn country. The decade-long conflict has led to more than 800,000 deaths and displaced over 4 million.
The end of such sanctions couldn’t come at a more critical time for Syria. The country has fallen to its lowest ranking on the Human Development Index since it was introduced in 1990. The change for the worse has been dramatic. Most experts now consider it will take more than 50 years to get back to pre-war economic levels. As the country grapples with its challenges, the Syrian government has recently reached an agreement with the Druze community following days of violence, showcasing a potential shift towards internal stability.
Lifting of Sanctions and International Support
President Trump’s announcement marks an important moment for Syria’s future. He expressed his intentions clearly, stating, “I will be ordering the cessation of sanctions against Syria in order to give them a chance at greatness. It’s their time to shine. We’re taking them all off.” This entire policy is designed to give the Assad regime a chance to recover and create conditions that will revive the Syrian economy.
The United Kingdom is the first country to join the movement! For one, they have removed sanctions placed on 12 Syrian government-connected entities, including key Syrian ministries. This joint initiative from Western countries is indicative of an increasing international agreement in favor of Syria’s reconstruction and rehabilitation.
Saudi Arabia and Qatar are already moving to make this happen. They have promised to forgive Syria’s debt to the World Bank, totaling close to $15 million. Gulf Arab states are making a strong showing to pay to rebuild Syria’s devastated infrastructure. This area suffered severe destruction during the conflict, and their assistance will be important to the region’s rehabilitation.
Challenges Ahead for Syria
Even with this positive momentum due to the lifted sanctions and strong international support, Syria will still have an uphill battle moving forward. The people of this country have had to toil under a completely corrupt and predatory establishment. It once overwhelmingly benefitted President Bashar al-Assad’s loyalists, providing them with preferential access to government influence and contracts while leaving strategic industries heavily centralized in Assad’s family and his Alawite base.
Syria’s Foreign Minister, Asaad al-Shaibani, emphasized the importance of the current moment, stating, “This is a pivotal turning point for the Syrian people as we move toward a future of stability, self-sufficiency, and true reconstruction after years of devastating war.” Getting there will take a lot more—no surprise given the magnitude of goals, such as long-standing corruption or current geopolitical conflicts.
Israel has continued to conduct air strikes in Syria, targeting various locations amidst fears of Iranian influence in the region. Earlier this week, the Syrian presidency denounced an Israeli strike at the edge of its capital city’s presidential palace as a “dangerous escalation.” The continued ethnic conflict has made bringing lasting peace and stability to the region an uphill battle, and the threat of resumed violence looms large.
A Call for Rebuilding Diplomatic Ties
In context, Syria’s new government has made barely disguised efforts to restore its own diplomatic relations with international financial institutions. This widespread effort is crucial to their recovery strategy. The need for major outside assistance is key to understand—without it, reconstruction is likely to remain mired in limbo for years to come. The consistent threat of violence and instability in these neighboring areas makes this an even more difficult task.
Hoping to move on from its ISIS-infested past, Syria is betting on a lot of help from rich Gulf Arab states. These European countries now seem eager to support the eventual revival of Syria’s economy and the reconstruction of its war-ravaged infrastructure. The international community is eagerly awaiting these developments as they happen.
