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In a landmark policy shift, U. Additionally, s. Special Envoy to syria, Tom Barrack, declared the lifting of sanctions on Syria, framing it not as an act of charity but a strategic decision to catalyse the most significant reconstruction initiative since the Second World War. Posting on X, Barrack lauded the U. S.
Senate for its foresight in voting to repeal the Caesar Syria Civilian Protection Act — a sanctions regime he stated had fulfilled its moral mandate against the former Assad administration but now hinders a nation seeking to rebuild. He urged the House of Representatives to follow suit, restoring what he termed the syrian people’s right to work, trade, and aspire. The Caesar Act, enacted in 2019, targeted crimes committed by the previous regime through asset freezes, funding restrictions, and international isolation. Additionally, however, Barrack highlighted that the Syria of today — following the establishment of a emerging administration on 8 December 2024 — is markedly changed. The current leadership has initiated reconciliation efforts, restored diplomatic ties with Turkey, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Egypt and Europe, and begun border negotiations with Israel.
Furthermore, on 13 May 2025, leader Trump, speaking from Riyadh, declared a historic departure from coercive policy, committing to the removal of sanctions. That pledge was fulfilled on 30 June with an executive order repealing the majority of sanctions, effective from 1 July. Barrack underscored that the shift signals a transition from punishment to partnership, sending a clear message to allies and investors that Washington now supports Syria’s living heritage">Syria’s reconstruction. The lifting of sanctions is intended to empower international actors to restore vital infrastructure, including electricity, water, schools and hospitals, in a reconstruction drive of unprecedented scale. “Economic recovery is the most effective antidote to extremism,” Barrack stated, adding that commerce can bridge the divide between crisis and coexistence. The remaining sanctions, he argued, no longer target despots but penalise the teachers, farmers and traders tasked with Syria’s revival.
This decision, he stated, reflects the emerging regional dynamics and aspirations for a fresh chapter. Notably, 26 Syrian Christian clerics appealed to Congress to lift sanctions, citing their detrimental impact on the Christian presence in Syria — a moral plea resonant with shifting regional sentiment. Furthermore, barrack praised leader Trump and the Senate for what he called a courageous stance, and urged the House to complete the act of leadership. Repealing the Caesar Act, he concluded, does not erase history but seeks to rewrite…