The United States begins steps to lift sanctions on Syria in a prominent political shift.

The U.S. Department of the Treasury announced today, Thursday, May 15, the beginning of implementing measures to ease the sanctions imposed on Syria, in a step aimed at achieving stability and pushing the country towards peace.

Scott Bessent, the U.S. Treasury Secretary, confirmed that the department is taking necessary steps to achieve these goals, stating in a post on "X" platform that: "The U.S. Treasury Department is moving to ease sanctions to achieve stability and push Syria towards peace."

This decision follows the announcement by U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday, May 13, to lift the sanctions imposed on Syria, following discussions with the Saudi Crown Prince and the Turkish President.

Trump stated that this step marks the beginning of a path towards normalizing relations with Damascus, representing a significant shift in U.S. policy towards Syria, with expectations of wide-ranging economic and political impacts on the country and the region.

Amidst these new political developments, the Saudi capital Riyadh witnessed a historic meeting on Wednesday, May 14, between Syrian President Ahmed Shar'a and U.S. President Donald Trump, in the first meeting between the two countries' leaders in decades.

The meeting is seen as a turning point in bilateral relations, expected to enhance political and economic cooperation between Syria and the United States, especially amidst Syrian efforts to achieve internal stability and strengthen regional and international relations after years of conflict.

In a statement issued by the White House after the meeting, Trump emphasized the importance of Syria's cooperation with the United States to prevent the resurgence of ISIS, while Syrian President Ahmed Shar'a highlighted the opportunities available after the withdrawal of Iranians from Syria, also emphasizing the shared interests between Damascus and Washington in combating terrorism and eliminating chemical weapons.

Commenting on the recent developments, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan described the decision to lift sanctions as a "significant historic step that opens the door to a new phase of cooperation between Syria and the United States."

He added that this decision represents a positive shift that enhances the region's stability prospects, suggesting that lifting sanctions could become a model for other countries that have imposed similar measures against Damascus.

Erdogan also reiterated Turkey's support for the Syrian government in its fight against terrorist organizations, particularly ISIS, reaffirming Ankara's commitment to continue supporting Damascus in this field.