In a moment of considerable geopolitical significance, US President Donald Trump announced on May 13, during a high-profile visit to Saudi Arabia, that the United States would lift sanctions on Syria. The move, which came at the urging of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, marks a historic shift in US foreign policy and signals a potentially transformative phase for Syria and the broader Middle East. With the fall of President Bashar al-Assad’s in December, the Trump administration appears to have recalibrated its position, opening the door for regional stabilization and reconstruction efforts that could reshape the post-conflict landscape.

Trump’s remarks, characteristically concise and direct, reflected both a pragmatic and strategic understanding of Syria’s new reality. “There is a new government that will hopefully succeed in stabilizing the country and keeping peace,” he stated, indicating that the US sanctions-originally designed to isolate and weaken Assad’s regime-had outlived their purpose. In doing so, Trump effectively acknowledged the shift in power dynamics within Syria and the futility of punishing a nation struggling to emerge from the shadow of brutal dictatorship and civil war.

The decision to lift sanctions represents a significant diplomatic triumph for Saudi Arabia. Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s influence over the US president underscores Riyadh’s central role in shaping regional policy. By advocating for the end of US sanctions, Saudi Arabia positioned itself as a proactive stabilizer in a region long mired in conflict. It is a message not just to Syria, but to the world: that Saudi Arabia sees itself as the guarantor of regional peace and reconstruction.

Saudi Arabia’s investment in Syria’s post-Assad transition is more than symbolic. It is rooted in the Kingdom’s broader goal of curbing Iranian influence, preventing the resurgence of extremist groups, and establishing economic corridors that serve its own Vision........

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