At a gathering in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, European and Middle Eastern diplomats discussed the future of Syria following the overthrow of President Bashar Assad last month. The new interim government, led by former rebels, is seeking international support to rebuild the country after nearly 14 years of civil war that resulted in hundreds of thousands of deaths and millions of displaced people.
While Germany emphasized the importance of maintaining sanctions against Assad’s regime, they also called for a smart approach to sanctions to provide rapid relief for the Syrian population. The United States, European Union, and Arab nations imposed sanctions in response to Assad’s brutal crackdown on the 2011 uprising, crippling Syria’s economy. Relief organizations have faced challenges due to overcompliance by financial institutions hindering their operations.
Saudi Arabia urged for the lifting of international and unilateral sanctions on Syria to allow the country to achieve its development and reconstruction goals. Turkey, a strong supporter of the Syrian opposition, pledged to help Syria normalize ties with the international community and combat threats from groups like the Islamic State.
The United States recently eased some restrictions on Syria, authorizing certain transactions with the Syrian government, including energy sales. They also dropped a $10 million bounty on former rebel leader Ahmad al-Sharaa, who played a key role in ousting Assad. With Assad no longer in power, Syria’s new authorities are hopeful that the international community will provide the necessary support to rebuild the country and revive its economy.
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