Internal debate in US over Trump's sanctions relief vow for Syria: AP

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: The Associated Press
23 May 2025 15:33

As Trump pushes to lift US sanctions on Syria, internal divisions emerge over how fast and under what conditions to proceed, with some figures urging a cautious, phased approach.

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A man fires into the air from one of the trucks carrying some of the 60 displaced families who, supported by an NGO, are returning to their village after more than five years in the Atmeh camps near the Syrian-Turkish border, in Kafr Sijna, south of Idlib, Syria, Sunday, May 18, 2025 (AP)

US President Donald Trump’s push to end decades of US sanctions on Syria has ignited a growing debate within his administration over how quickly and under what conditions relief should be granted, the Associated Press reported.

The move comes in the wake of the collapse of Bashar al-Assad’s regime and the emergence of a transitional government led by President Ahmad al-Sharaa, a former militant commander with previous ties to al-Qaeda.

Trump has positioned the policy shift as an effort to prevent Syria from becoming a failed state and to support post-war reconstruction after a 13-year war that devastated the country’s economy and displaced millions.

Internal debate in the administration

Within the Trump administration, officials are split on how to implement Syria sanctions relief. Some argue for immediate executive action to waive or lift penalties without setting preconditions. Others favor a cautious, phased approach that would tie future relief to specific benchmarks.

A roadmap developed by the State Department’s policy and planning staff outlines three phases, AP cited a senior US official as saying. The first would offer short-term waivers, while subsequent stages would depend on progress, such as:

Removing "Palestinian terror groups" from Syrian territory
Securing Islamic State (ISIS) detainees through cooperation with the Syrian Democratic Forces
Syria joining the "Abraham Accords" and normalizing relations with "Israel"
Confirming the destruction of the former government’s chemical weapons stockpile

Critics say these conditions, particularly the first, are vague and difficult to verify, potentially stalling meaningful relief indefinitely.

The Caesar Act

While the US president can lift many sanctions via executive orders, more stringent congressional sanctions pose a tougher challenge. Chief among these is the Caesar Syria Civilian Protection Act, enacted in 2019 in response to alleged atrocities under al-Assad's regime. The law blocks most reconstruction aid and penalizes foreign investment in Syria.

Although the Caesar Act allows for 180-day waivers, the short timeline discourages investment due to the risk of reinstated penalties. Permanent relief would require legislative action, a far more complex and time-consuming process.

Syria’s transitional government, Western alignment

In recent testimony before Congress, Secretary of State Marco Rubio advocated for quick, incremental relief, warning that Syria’s new government could face collapse within weeks.

He acknowledged past concerns about al-Sharaa’s affiliation with the Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham group, originally linked to al-Qaeda, but emphasized that engagement offers the best chance to stabilize the country.

“If we engage them, it may work out, it may not work out,” Rubio said. “If we do not engage them, it is guaranteed not to work out.”

Senator Lindsey Graham echoed Rubio’s concerns during a meeting with Syria’s foreign minister in Turkey. Both lawmakers expressed support for Trump’s push to ease sanctions but emphasized that permanent relief must be conditional on the new government's actions.

Al-Sharaa has pledged to build an inclusive and Western-aligned government. While the administration remains cautious due to the Syrian president's militant background, some in Washington argue that engaging the current leadership could prevent a resurgence of extremist groups like ISIS.

Next steps unclear

White House National Security Council spokesperson Max Bluestein confirmed that the administration is “analyzing the optimal way” to proceed and that a formal announcement is expected soon.

The outcome of these deliberations will shape not only US-Syria relations but also the broader future of stability in the region.