Head of Senate Foreign Relations Committee backs Trump’s move to lift Syria sanctions
'Now, it is up to the new Syrian government to live up to this opportunity, and for regional actors to help them succeed,' says Jim Risch
WASHINGTON
The head of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on Wednesday welcomed US President Donald Trump’s decision to lift sanctions on Syria.
“This is a good move by President Trump,” the Republican from the state of Idaho wrote on X. “The fall of the Assad regime presents a fleeting opportunity for the United States to safeguard American interests. Now, it is up to the new Syrian government to live up to this opportunity, and for regional actors to help them succeed.”
Trump announced the policy shift Tuesday during the 2025 Saudi-US Investment Forum in Riyadh, where he said he would order the removal of the “brutal and crippling” sanctions on Syria to give the country “a chance at greatness.”
The president also held his first-ever meeting with Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa on the sidelines of the forum. The meeting was attended by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, while Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan joined virtually.
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