US announces end to sanctions on Syria. Trump: Show us something special

President Donald Trump announced Tuesday that the U.S. would lift sanctions on Syria and normalize relations with its new government. The White House confirmed that Trump will meet Wednesday with Syria's interim president, Ahmed al-Shara, a former al-Qaeda commander who spent five years in U.S. prisons in Iraq.

"There is a new government and I hope it succeeds ... I wish Syria good luck, show us something special," Trump said during a speech at an investment forum in Riyadh on the first day of his three-day tour of the Middle East.

He added that the US would take action to normalize relations with the new government, which it had not officially recognized before. "Let's give peace a chance," Trump emphasized. He noted that the leaders of Saudi Arabia and Turkey - Mohammed bin Salman and Recep Tayyip Erdogan - had persuaded him to lift the sanctions.

The US imposed successive sanctions on Syria during the authoritarian rule of the Assad clan, which was overthrown in December 2024 by a coalition of Islamist rebels led by Shara. The current leader of Syria was previously a commander of an al-Qaeda faction, among other things.

The new government has distanced itself from jihadist ideology, terror and hostility towards neighbors and ethnic minorities. Szara has sought rapprochement with the West and the lifting of sanctions, emphasizing that this is necessary to unite and rebuild the country, which was destroyed after nearly 14 years of civil war.

This is a surprising move by Trump, Reuters commented. The AP added that the clear change in the direction of American policy towards Syria is inconsistent with the approach of Israel, which considers the new Syrian authorities a threat, points to Szara's terrorist past and warns against normalizing relations. The United States has long had tense relations with Syria, which was an ally of the USSR and later Iran during the Cold War.

During his speech in Riyadh, Trump also reiterated the main points of his Middle East policy.

"My great hope, wish and even dream is that Saudi Arabia will soon join the Abraham Accords (...), but it will happen in due time," said the American leader, referring to the agreements negotiated during his previous term, under which the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Morocco established diplomatic relations with Israel and recognized this state.

Despite advanced talks, the agreement is blocked by the issue of Palestinian statehood. Saudi authorities have consistently repeated that the condition for the agreement must be the prospect of creating an independent Palestine, something that the current Israeli government does not agree to.

Earlier in Riyadh, Trump signed a strategic economic partnership agreement with Salman. Saudi Arabia will invest $600 billion in the American economy, of which $300 billion worth of contracts were signed on Tuesday, the American leader noted. He added that he hopes that the total amount of Saudi investments will soon increase to $1 trillion, which Salman also confirmed.

Trump also said his administration is working to end Israel's war with Hamas in the Gaza Strip as soon as possible and release all hostages still held there.

He also said he was ready to conclude a nuclear deal with Iran that would limit the country's nuclear program in exchange for the lifting of sanctions. He added that this offer "will not last forever" and if it is rejected, the United States "will exert enormous pressure and lead to a complete suspension of Iranian oil exports." He reiterated that Tehran cannot acquire nuclear weapons.

Jerzy Adamiak (PAP)

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