In a statement to Tunisie Numérique on Wednesday, May 14, 2025, former diplomat Abdallah Abidi said that U.S. President Donald Trump’s decision to lift sanctions on Syria reflects the country’s shift from being an adversary to a strategic ally. He explained that this change comes in light of the occupying army’s control over large parts of Syrian territory, which has undermined the concept of national sovereignty—especially as military strikes continue to target various regions.
Abidi added that current developments show that President Ahmad Shar’a is now freely traveling to Western countries, with his latest visit to France marked by an official reception from President Emmanuel Macron. This, he said, reinforces the idea that Trump did not lift sanctions on Syria as a state per se, but rather on the “new Syria” in its present form. He considered the decision neither exceptional nor surprising, as it merely required rapprochement and alignment with the American side.
He also noted that other areas that might face obstacles or challenges are being managed through a set of signed and practical agreements. He affirmed that Syria today has become part of a new network of international alliances that is reshaping the regional balance of power.
It is worth noting that on Wednesday, the first meeting took place in Riyadh between U.S. President Donald Trump and Syria’s transitional president Ahmad Shar’a. This meeting followed Trump’s unexpected announcement of lifting sanctions on Syria, a move that came after consultations with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.
As a reminder, U.S. President Donald Trump signed the Caesar Syria Civilian Protection Act in late 2019, which came into force in June 2020. The law imposed severe economic sanctions on the Syrian regime and its backers, targeting key figures including President Bashar al-Assad and his wife Asma al-Assad, as well as entities involved in supporting the regime or participating in reconstruction projects. The Caesar Act aimed to increase pressure on the regime to end civilian abuses and push toward a political resolution.
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