With Trump’s Syria sanctions relief, Turkey eyes refugee returns, regional gains
Sanctions relief opens the door to Syria's postwar reconstruction and other investment, with Turkish firms and Gulf money poised to lead the charge.
In a stunning reversal of longstanding US policy, President Donald Trump announced his intention to lift sanctions on Syria, signaling a major geopolitical shift to boost the country's economic recovery, which could potentially reshape Turkey’s role in the Middle East.
Trump announced on Tuesday from Saudi Arabia that he would lift sanctions on Syria and, the following day, held a historic meeting with Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa. Regional analysts say Syria and its neighbors, especially Turkey, could see swift economic and political benefits.
With the Assad dynasty a thing of the past and international investors eyeing reconstruction opportunities in Syria, Trump’s pivot could accelerate the return of Syrian refugees and pave the way for deeper cooperation particularly between Turkey, the Gulf states, and the new Syrian leadership.
Experts caution, however, that sanctions relief alone cannot fix Syria’s deep scars or ensure long-term stability, especially with US foreign aid cuts, ongoing European sanctions, and unresolved ethnic divisions complicating the path forward.
