Trump to lift Syria sanctions, calls country a 'friend' after Ankara talks
Synopsis
In a striking foreign policy pivot, President Trump declared at a joint appearance with Turkey's Erdogan in Ankara that the US would lift sanctions on Syria — calling the country a 'friend' and praising its new leadership. The move, if executed, would mark the most significant shift in US-Syria relations in over a decade and signals Washington's intent to reshape its Middle East posture through regional partners.
Key Takeaways
US President Donald Trump announced on 7 July that his administration would remove sanctions on Syria , calling the country a 'friend.' The declaration was made during a meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Ankara , ahead of the NATO Summit .
Trump credited Erdogan with facilitating Washington's relationship with Syria's new leadership .
The sanctions removal is being coordinated with Secretary of State Marco Rubio , Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent , and Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth .
No formal timeline or legislative mechanism for lifting the sanctions was announced at the press appearance.
US President Donald Trump on Tuesday, 7 July announced that his administration would remove sanctions on Syria, describing the country as a friend and crediting Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan with helping Washington build ties with Syria's new leadership. The declaration came during a bilateral meeting in Ankara ahead of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) Summit.
What Trump Said
'We're going to be taking the sanctions off. OK? I don't want him to waste his time answering that question,' Trump said during a joint appearance with Erdogan. He added that the decision was being coordinated with Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, and Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth.
'It's time to do that. OK? You don't want to sanction friends. It's very simple. There's plenty of people we can sanction and we are sanctioning. We don't want to sanction friends,' Trump said, offering his clearest public signal yet of an intent to normalise relations with Damascus after years of sweeping economic restrictions imposed by successive US administrations.
Erdogan's Role in the Diplomatic Shift
Trump credited Erdogan with playing a pivotal role in Washington's engagement with Syria's post-Assad government. 'Because of the president, you know, we have a very good relationship with the new leader of Syria, and he's done an amazing job — in a year and a half, he's pulled the whole country together,' Trump said, praising Syria's new leadership for consolidating control over the war-torn nation.
The Ankara meeting also covered regional security, Iran, and bilateral US-Turkey ties. Trump said Turkey had been 'very instrumental' in efforts related to Iran and had chosen not to become directly involved in the recent regional conflict despite possessing, in Trump's words, 'a very powerful military.'
Broader US Strategy in the Middle East
The announcement reflects a broader recalibration of US policy across the Middle East, with Washington reportedly seeking to encourage regional partners such as Turkey to assume larger diplomatic roles in managing conflicts. This comes amid ongoing US efforts to reshape its engagement with several regional flashpoints simultaneously.
Notably, Syria has been under layers of US sanctions — including the Caesar Syria Civilian Protection Act — that have severely constrained its economy and limited international investment. Lifting those restrictions would mark one of the most significant shifts in US-Syria policy in over a decade.
What Comes Next
No formal timeline or legislative roadmap for lifting the sanctions was announced during the Ankara press appearance. The process is expected to involve coordination across multiple US departments, including the State Department and Treasury. Regional governments and international investors will be closely watching for executive orders or Congressional action that formally unwinds the restrictions.
Point of View
Particularly the Caesar Act provisions, requires either Congressional action or a carefully sequenced executive process; a press-conference announcement does neither. The credit given to Erdogan is also telling: it suggests Turkey is being positioned as Washington's primary broker in post-Assad Syria, a role that will unsettle both Israel and Gulf states who have their own competing interests in Damascus. What mainstream coverage underplays is that Syria's new government has not yet met the human rights benchmarks the Caesar Act was designed to enforce. Whether this administration intends to waive those benchmarks or rewrite the conditions entirely is the question that will define whether this is a genuine normalisation or a headline that outruns execution.
NationPress
7 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Trump announce about Syria sanctions?
President Trump announced on 7 July that the US would lift sanctions on Syria, describing the country as a friend. The announcement was made during a joint appearance with Turkish President Erdogan in Ankara ahead of the NATO Summit.
Why is the US lifting Syria sanctions now?
Trump cited Syria's progress under its new post-Assad leadership and credited Turkey's President Erdogan with helping build Washington's relationship with Damascus. The move reflects a broader US effort to reshape its Middle East policy by engaging regional partners diplomatically.
Who is coordinating the Syria sanctions removal?
Trump said the process is being handled in coordination with Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, and Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, among others.
What role did Turkey play in the US-Syria rapprochement?
Trump credited Erdogan with being instrumental in facilitating Washington's engagement with Syria's new leadership. He also praised Turkey for its role in Iran-related efforts and for not directly entering recent regional conflicts.
When will Syria sanctions actually be lifted?
No formal timeline was announced. The lifting of sanctions — particularly those under the Caesar Syria Civilian Protection Act — would require coordination across US government departments and potentially Congressional involvement. Details are expected to emerge in the coming weeks.
