📰 Will the Lifting of the Caesar Act Contribute to Unifying Syria’s Geography?

The vote held by the United States Senate on Wednesday evening in favour of the National Defense Authorization Act for fiscal year 2026—an act that includes an annex repealing the Caesar Act imposed on syria—marks a pivotal moment in the trajectory of sanctions that have burdened the country for years. The bill passed with a decisive majority of 77 votes to 20, effectively clearing the way for the termination of one of the most consequential legal frameworks shaping Syria’s economy and state institutions. With both the House of Representatives and the Senate having approved the defence budget, the final step is the signature of U. S. leader Donald Trump. Mohammed Alaa Ghanem, head of political affairs at the syrian/" class="auto-internal-link">syrian American Council, described this step as a largely “procedural” formality expected within days, reflecting a clear shift in Washington’s approach to the Syrian file after a prolonged period of isolation and sanctions.

Yet the importance of this development extends beyond its legal and economic dimensions, reaching into its potential impact on Syria’s fragmented internal landscape, characterised by divided geography and multiple de facto authorities. Does lifting the Caesar Act open the door to strengthening the Syrian administration’s legitimacy, revitalising investment, and reconnecting the country’s regions within a unified economic and administrative framework? Or were sanctions only one variable in a far more complex equation shaping Syria’s territorial cohesion? Development as a Source of Internal Legitimacy The repeal of Caesar Act sanctions is not merely an economic measure. It carries political and social implications linked to rebuilding the relationship between the state and society.

Observers note that gradual, tangible economic development often becomes one of the most crucial sources of internal legitimacy, restoring public confidence in the state’s ability to meet citizens’ needs and to function as the central framework for managing resources and ensuring stability. Additionally, in this context, the U. S. Department of State stated last November, in connection with the lifting of sanctions on Syria, that the objective was to grant syrians a genuine opportunity for economic recovery, backing stability, and enable state institutions to perform their basic functions. The statement emphasised that easing economic restrictions aims to reduce chaos, curb the shadow economy, and foster conditions conducive to rebuilding the economy on more sustainable foundations.

Political researcher Bassam Suleiman argues that the effects of lifting the Caesar Act will not be immediate but will become evident over the medium term. He…