Trump lifts sanctions: Celebrations in Syria – A historic moment!

Trump lifts sanctions: Celebrations in Syria – A historic moment!

US President Donald Trump announced today that he would lift sanctions against Syria, prompting cheers and celebrations among his supporters in many cities across the country. In Damascus, a digital billboard flashed the slogan “Make Syria great again,” a reference to Trump’s famous slogan “Make America great again.” “Make Syria great again” caps can even be seen on social media and videos show happy people on the streets celebrating the end of sanctions. Since 2011, these sanctions have had a serious negative impact on the Syrian economy, which is now hoping for a recovery.

On Wednesday, Trump met Syrian interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa in Saudi Arabia in what is considered a historic event. This meeting is the first between the presidents of both countries in 25 years and marked an important turning point in diplomatic relations. The last meeting took place in 1994 between Bill Clinton and Hafez al-Assad. Al-Sharaa, who previously served as a military leader, leads a militia alliance aimed at toppling Bashar al-Assad and has in the past held a $10 million reward over his ties to al-Qaeda. He was elected president in January after his organization, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, took control of Damascus.

Diplomatic turn

Trump describes al-Sharaa as “great” and a “young, attractive man.” During the meeting, which lasted around 33 minutes, Trump called on al-Sharaa to recognize Israel. This represents a significant challenge as Syria and Israel have been at war since 1948. However, Al-Sharaa has shown openness to rapprochement in the past. Al-Sharaa's exact reactions to Trump's demands are not yet known. Trump underscored that lifting sanctions represents an “opportunity for greatness” for Syria and described previous measures as “crippling.”

The lifting of sanctions is not only welcomed in Syria, but is also interpreted as a signal to Iran. Trump is supported in this move by Saudi Arabian and Turkish leaders, particularly Mohammed bin Salman and Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, who are committed to stabilizing the region. The US president's decision could also lead to an increase in humanitarian aid and foreign investment in Syria, which is of great importance for the country.

A look into the future

Although the White House only said ahead of the meeting with al-Sharaa that Trump would say “hello” to him, the actual encounter shows the potential for a deeper diplomatic relationship between the US and Syria. Trump also encouraged al-Sharaa to sign the Abraham Accords with Israel, which could mean additional significant progress in Syria-US relations if these initiatives are implemented.

Overall, the lifting of sanctions and the meeting with al-Sharaa represents a significant shift in U.S. foreign policy toward Syria, which has been internationally isolated for years. While the signs appear optimistic, it remains to be seen how the political realities will develop and whether real cooperation between the two nations will be possible.

For more information you can check out the reporting from exxpress.at, news.sky.com and sueddeutsche.de consult.