Egypt, Syria discuss future cooperation following US sanctions lift
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Egypt and Syria held talks on post-sanctions developments, condemning Israeli violations and affirming support for a Syrian-owned political process that preserves the country’s unity and stability.
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In this photo provided by Egypt's presidency media office, Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi, greets Syria's interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa during the emergency Arab summit at Egypt's New Administrative Capital, March 4, 2025. (AP)
Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty held a phone conversation with his Syrian counterpart Asaad Al-Shibani to review Syria’s anticipated developments after the United States lifted its sanctions, the Egyptian Foreign Ministry stated on Thursday.
The ministry confirmed that the two ministers discussed key political, economic, and security developments in Syria, with particular focus on the "repeated Israeli violations and transgressions against Syrian sovereignty."
Abdelatty reaffirmed Egypt’s firm support for launching a comprehensive, Syrian-owned political process without external interference or conditions, emphasizing the importance of preserving Syria’s unity and stability and protecting the rights of all its people.
The Egyptian minister underscored that only a full Syrian-led initiative can bring about long-term peace and reconstruction, aligning with Cairo’s regional vision of non-intervention and sovereignty preservation.
US decision to end sanctions on Syria
On a related note, US President Donald Trump on Monday signed an executive order officially terminating the US sanctions program on Syria, marking a major shift in US foreign policy.
The move allowed Syria to reconnect with the international financial system, following Trump’s May announcement in Riyadh that the US would support Syria’s post-war recovery.
White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt confirmed that sanctions will remain in place against Syria’s ousted former president, Bashar al-Assad, his associates, human rights abusers, drug traffickers, individuals involved in chemical weapons activities, the Islamic State, and "Iran proxies".
Moreover, US Special Envoy for Syria Thomas Barrack described the executive order as "the culmination of a very tedious, detailed, excruciating process" aimed at responsibly unwinding the sanctions program.
"Syria needs to be given a chance, and that's what's happened," he said.
Read more: Syria to rejoin SWIFT system as sanctions lifted: Reports
