During his high-profile Middle East visit this week (MEES, 16 May), US President Donald Trump announced that the United States will lift sanctions on Syria following more than a decade of civil war which finally resulted in the ousting of President Bashar al-Assad in 2024 (MEES, 13 December 2024).
“The sanctions were brutal and crippling, and served an important function,” Mr Trump said during his speech at the Saudi-US Investment Forum in Riyadh this week. “But now it’s their time to shine. It’s their time to shine. We’re taking them all off, and they’re going to have, based on the spirit and the people…I say good luck Syria, show us something special.” (CONTINUED - 1482 WORDS)
