President Trump, speaking in Saudi Arabia, said he will order the end of sanctions against Syria to normalize relations with its new government.
President Donald Trump plans to accept jet from Qatar
President Donald Trump plans to accept 747-8 jumbo jet from Qatar’s royal family to replace Air Force One.
WASHINGTON − President Donald Trump said he will order the end of sanctions against Syria to “give them a chance of greatness” in an effort to normalize relations with the new Syrian government after the fall of dictator Bashar al-Assad.
Trump made the pledge during May 13 remarks at a U.S.-Saudi Investment Forum in Riyadh as makes his first presidential visit of his second term, a four-day swing through the Middle East.
“Oh, what I do for the crown prince,” Trump said, recounting how he arrived at the decision following discussions with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Turkish President Tayyip Erdoğan.
“The sanctions were brutal and crippling and served as an important function, nevertheless, at the time, but now it’s their time to shine. We’re taking them all off,” Trump said. “So I say, good luck, Syria. Show us something very special, like they’ve done, frankly, in Saudi Arabia.”
While in Saudi Arabia, Trump on May 14 is expected to meet the new Syrian president, Ahmed al-Sharaa, who rose to power after a group Syrian rebels in December forced Syrian President Bashar al-Assad out of Damascus, ending 50 years of tyrannical rule from the al-Assad family.
Al-Sharaa had lobbied for the end of the multilayered U.S. sanctions, which had continued after al-Assad’s ouster. The economic sanctions cut off Syria from the global financial system and has made economic recovery extremely challenging after 14 years of grinding war.
“In Syria, which has seen so much misery and death, there is a new government that will hopefully succeed in stabilizing the country and keeping peace,” Trump said.
In addition to Trump’s visit with al-Sharaa, Secretary of State Marco Rubio plans to meet with Syria’s new foreign minister this week in Turkey, Trump said.
Contributing: Reuters. Reach Joey Garrison at @joeygarrison.