US eyes embassy reopening, Syria’s terror delisting after Caesar repeal
The Caesar Act's repeal opens the door to improved US-Syria diplomatic and economic ties, but questions remain about embassy operations and lingering sanctions.
You're reading an excerpt from Al-Monitor Washington, where we break down the latest in US-Middle East diplomacy. To read the full newsletter, sign up here.
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump signed the National Defense Authorization Act on Thursday, permanently repealing the far-reaching Caesar Act sanctions that have kept Syria isolated from the global economy.
Trump unilaterally lifted most US sanctions on Syria after announcing in May that he wanted to give the country a “chance at greatness.” Lawmakers folded the Caesar Act repeal into the annual must-pass NDAA after months of negotiations over whether to require President Ahmed al‑Sharaa’s fragile new government to meet conditions, including on relations with Israel and the protection of minorities.
Lawmakers ultimately lifted the sanctions without conditions, paving the way for Syria’s economic recovery and closer relations with the United States a year after former President Bashar al‑Assad’s toppling at the hands of Sharaa’s rebel forces.
