Trump plans lifting sanctions on Syria in surprise announcement during Saudi visit

New Delhi, May 14: In a surprise announcement during his first visit to Saudi Arabia in his second term, U.S. President Donald Trump declared plan to lifting of American sanctions on Syria, a major geopolitical shift following more than a decade of diplomatic freeze and economic isolation of Syria.

The policy reversal announcement came during a high-profile investment summit in Riyadh, where Trump, standing beside Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, hailed the U.S.-Saudi relationship as “more powerful than ever before.” It was during these remarks that Trump confirmed the end of Washington’s punitive measures against Damascus, a move he hinted was personally requested by the Saudi crown prince. “Oh, what I do for the Crown Prince,” Trump quipped, smiling, adding that Syria now had “a chance at greatness.”

Observers believe the sanctions relief was part of a broader transactional, diplomatic arrangement between Riyadh and Washington. Trump’s visit coincided with the announcement of a $142 billion U.S.-Saudi arms deal and projections of nearly $1 trillion in future investment commitments from the Kingdom.

With Saudi Arabia seeking to increase its influence in the post-war Syria and deepen its strategic alignment with Washington, it may have used its economic leverage to secure a new chapter for Syria. The Kingdom has long sought regional stability that would allow it to focus on its ambitious Vision 2030 economic diversification agenda. It would enable Gulf countries to begin reconstruction projects and secure new trade routes and markets.

A war-torn nation at crossroads

Syria’s civil war that began in 2011, has left the country in ashes, in ruins. It all started with massive protests against the regime of Bashar al-Assad, the conflict spiralled into one of the most devastating wars of the 21st century, involving Islamist and radical militias, interference of foreign powers, leading to immense civilian suffering and casualties.

Over 500,000 Syrians were killed, and millions displaced. The U.S., under successive administrations, imposed a web of sanctions targeting the Assad regime’s military and financial networks, seeking to isolate it internationally. But Assad was ousted in December, and Syria has since appointed a transitional government, headed by President Ahmed al-Sharaa. The new leadership, while still untested, has been greeted cautiously by regional and Western actors alike.

For Washington, the change offered a diplomatic off-ramp — and for Riyadh, an opportunity to steer Syria back into the Arab fold.
“This is a new start,” Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Shibani told reporters after the announcement, calling it “a historic moment for our reconstruction and renewal.”

Sanctions relief: What it means for Syria

The lifting of U.S. sanctions could prove a lifeline for Syria’s battered economy. It opens the doors to long-blocked international aid, reconstruction funding, and private capital, particularly from Gulf countries eager to expand their regional influence through economic power.

For years, sanctions prevented even humanitarian support from flowing freely. With the embargo now going to be lifted, institutions such as the World Bank, as well as Gulf sovereign wealth funds, are expected to re-engage. Trump is expected to meet with President al-Sharaa in Riyadh on Wednesday. It would mark the first such meeting between U.S. and Syrian heads of state in over a decade.

Trump’s visit to the Gulf is being billed as a major foreign policy and economic tour, with stops also scheduled in Qatar and the UAE, the latter already pledging $1.4 trillion in U.S.-bound investments over the next ten years. Trump has made foreign capital inflow a centerpiece of his economic agenda, frequently linking diplomatic outreach to commercial deals.

In his remarks at the Riyadh summit, he praised Saudi Arabia’s commitment to American economic growth. “From the moment we started, we’ve seen wealth that has poured, and is pouring into America,” Trump said.

International media reported thar Trump also reiterated his hope for Saudi Arabia to join the Abraham Accords, a diplomatic framework from his first term that normalised relations between Israel and several Gulf countries. Yet Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman remains noncommittal, insisting that no normalization will occur until the war in Gaza ends and a credible path to Palestinian statehood emerges.

Trump, for his part, touched only briefly on the Israeli Palestinian conflict, criticising Hamas for “choosing to kidnap, torture and target for political ends,” in reference to the October 7, 2023, attacks, and expressing hope that “the people of Gaza will have a better future.”

Trump in Riyadh yesterday was given a rousing reception. The Saudis rolled out a lavender carpet, symbolizing desert wildflowers and generosity, a tradition they adopted in 2021. Trump appeared to coordinate, donning a purple tie, and was greeted personally by Crown Prince Mohammed and a ceremonial guard of Arabian horses.

Yet behind the optics lies a clear strategic calculation. Saudi Arabia sees in Trump a familiar and transactional partner, willing to align diplomacy with dollars. And for Trump, lifting Syrian sanctions offers an inexpensive foreign policy win, one that could boost American influence, encourage Gulf investment, and demonstrate a pivot away from endless wars toward economic reconstruction.