The U.S. Treasury officially announces lifting sanctions on Syria and opening the doors for investment.

In a new and described as historic step, the US Treasury Department announced last Friday evening the issuance of a general license to immediately ease the sanctions imposed on Syria, in line with President Donald Trump's announcement to lift all sanctions on Damascus. The Treasury confirmed that the new license allows transactions that were prohibited under the previous sanctions, facilitating activities across all sectors of the Syrian economy and contributing to revitalizing infrastructure. The decision is part of a broader American effort to completely remove sanctions and open the door to a new phase of economic and political cooperation with Syria. US Treasury Secretary Scott Biesent emphasized that this step "paves the way for a more stable and prosperous future for Syria," supporting efforts to transition to a country enjoying peace and development. Meanwhile, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced a temporary 180-day waiver from sanctions imposed under the "Caesar Act," aiming to not hinder foreign investments and facilitate the provision of basic services such as electricity, water, energy, sanitation, healthcare, and support humanitarian relief efforts throughout Syria. Rubio added that this decision represents the first step in implementing President Trump's vision for a new relationship between Syria and the United States, granting Syria a new opportunity to enhance internal peace and stability and regional relations. It is noteworthy that this significant shift in the US stance came at the direct request of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, as announced by President Trump during his visit to Riyadh on May 13, explaining that dialogue with Prince Mohammed bin Salman led to this decision with the aim of "giving Syrians a chance to rise again." The European Union welcomed the US move, with Kayla Kalas, the foreign policy official, announcing that EU foreign ministers agreed on May 20 to lift the economic sanctions imposed on Syria since the era of the ousted President Bashar al-Assad, bolstering international momentum towards supporting reconstruction efforts. The new Syrian authorities hope to benefit from these developments to launch a comprehensive rebuilding process for the country after more than 14 years of war and collapse. The United Nations estimates that Syria needs $400 billion for reconstruction, including rehabilitating destroyed buildings and infrastructure, and restoring vital services that collapsed during years of conflict. With this US decision and increasing international support, Syria appears today on the threshold of a pivotal stage of recovery and economic openness, driven by unprecedented regional and international consensus.