White House rolls the dice on Syria’s future as Ahmed al-Sharaa takes reins in Damascus
President Donald Trump has formally lifted U.S. sanctions on Syria, signaling a seismic shift in Washington’s Middle East policy. The decision, signed off Monday, follows Trump’s headline-grabbing meeting last month in Saudi Arabia with Syria’s new interim president — a man once affiliated with al-Qaeda.
It’s a move that’s ignited fierce debate across Washington, stunned allies, and left many Syrians abroad reeling. And it all boils down to one calculated gamble: that Ahmed al-Sharaa, a 42-year-old former jihadi turned political leader, can somehow steer a war-ravaged Syria into a new era of stability.
A handshake in Riyadh that shook foreign policy
Trump’s May 14 meeting with al-Sharaa in Riyadh was billed as a “regional stabilization dialogue” but quickly turned heads once photos emerged of the two smiling side by side.
Al-Sharaa, once a commander in al-Qaeda’s Iraqi affiliate during the height of the U.S. occupation, later split with the group and reportedly aligned with tribal and moderate factions during Syria’s later war years. But for many — including U.S. lawmakers on both sides — that past still looms large.
One former senior U.S. diplomat who spoke under condition of anonymity didn’t mince words: “We’ve gone from ‘we don’t negotiate with terrorists’ to ‘we handshake with them.’ It’s a hell of a turn.”
Still, the Trump team insists this is a calculated and forward-looking move.
The administration’s justification: “Give Damascus a chance”
Speaking to reporters Monday, State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce framed the sanctions rollback as part of “the president’s bold vision” for the Middle East.
She confirmed that multiple agencies — State, Treasury, Commerce — had been working in tandem to execute the plan, which includes easing restrictions on Syria’s access to international banking systems and select exports.
The rationale, she said, is simple: “We either let Syria continue as a failed state open to Iranian militias and Russian leverage, or we take a chance on new leadership rebuilding from the ground up.”
The lifting applies only to the current interim government. Bashar al-Assad, now exiled in Russia, remains on the U.S. sanctions blacklist, along with his senior military advisers.
Who is Ahmed al-Sharaa?
Even in a country that’s lived through revolution, war, ISIS, and Russian bombardment, al-Sharaa’s rise has been a surprise.
Originally from Daraa, the birthplace of the 2011 uprising, al-Sharaa’s early years saw him fight alongside al-Qaeda-linked insurgents in Iraq and later in northern Syria. But in 2017, he reportedly broke ranks and began pushing for a tribal-led coalition government. Over the past five years, he’s slowly risen through Syria’s fragmented opposition ranks — eventually emerging as the de facto leader after Assad fled to Moscow in April.
His backers include a loose patchwork of Gulf Arab states, Turkish-aligned groups, and reportedly even tacit support from France and the UK. U.S. intelligence sources say al-Sharaa has also been in private talks with Israel about border security.
One Western diplomat described him bluntly: “A survivor. Maybe even a chameleon. But he has real influence where others don’t.”
Reactions split across Washington and beyond
Predictably, the reactions to Trump’s move have been deeply divided.
Democrats on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee issued a joint statement calling the sanctions rollback “a diplomatic betrayal of basic human rights and a gift to extremism.” Republicans have largely remained silent, with some privately voicing concern about blowback from both Israel and the intelligence community.
Meanwhile, former CIA officials have raised alarms over the optics of legitimizing a figure with such a past.
And yet, the business community — particularly construction and energy firms with past interests in the Levant — is already sizing up opportunities.
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One U.S. executive who requested anonymity said his firm had fielded inquiries from a Dubai-based intermediary within hours of the announcement.
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European banking sources say SWIFT access for Syrian banks could resume in stages by August if political conditions hold.
A cautious welcome inside Syria
On the ground in Syria, where the economy is in tatters and basic infrastructure remains gutted, the news was met with cautious hope.
Residents in Homs and Latakia interviewed by independent media outlets said they were less concerned about al-Sharaa’s past than they were about jobs and stability.
“There’s nothing left to lose,” one grocer in Hama reportedly told a Turkish broadcaster. “Let the man try.”
Still, others remain deeply skeptical.
A student in Aleppo told a Lebanon-based journalist: “We’ve heard promises for years. But water still runs once a week, and half the city’s in darkness.”
What sanctions were lifted — and what wasn’t
The policy shift doesn’t mean a complete reset. Many restrictions remain in place, especially those tied to human rights violations and weapons.
Here’s a breakdown of the new policy, based on documents reviewed by Bloomberg:
| Sector | Status After Sanctions Lift | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Oil and Gas Exports | Permitted under license | Limited to non-military sectors |
| Civil Aviation Imports | Allowed | U.S. and EU suppliers may resume parts shipments |
| Banking Access | Partial restoration | SWIFT access under review, major banks still wary |
| Assad Family Assets | Still frozen | No change |
| Military Imports/Exports | Prohibited | No arms deals permitted |
| U.S. Personnel Travel | Discouraged but not banned | Advisory remains in place |
This selective lifting aims to open channels for trade and reconstruction without giving the regime carte blanche — at least, that’s the theory.
Trump’s Middle East strategy: Peace or provocation?
For Trump, this is just the latest twist in a Middle East doctrine defined more by instinct than consistency.
From the Abraham Accords to a near-war with Iran in 2020, Trump has often tossed the rulebook. But even allies say this latest decision — backing a man with a terrorist-linked past — pushes boundaries few saw coming.
Is it a breakthrough or just another foreign policy flashpoint waiting to unravel? Depends who you ask. But one thing’s for sure: Trump’s never been one to shy away from controversy.
