What Does Syria's Sanctions Relief Mean for Lebanon?

What does Syria's sanctions relief mean for Lebanon?

As the US considers lifting sanctions on Syria, Lebanon sees both risk and opportunity. President Joseph Aoun is eyeing regional trade, refugee returns and economic recovery amid shifting alliances.

What would lifting US sanctions on Syria mean?

President Donald Trump’s announcement that the U.S. will ease sanctions on Syria could eventually facilitate the country’s recovery from years of civil war and transform the lives of everyday Syrians. But experts say it will take time, and the process for lifting the sanctions — some of which were first introduced 47 years ago — is unclear. “I think people view sanctions as a switch that you turn on and off,” said Karam Shaar, a Syrian economist…

U.S. lifts sanctions on Syria, renewing hope for Christians

Meetings took place this week between the head of the transitional phase in Syria, Ahmed al-Sharaa, and U.S. President Donald Trump, in the presence of the Saudi Crown Prince, Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Riyadh. / Credit: Syrian Arab Republic Presidency Facebook page ACI MENA, May 15, 2025 / 17:33 pm (CNA). In a surprising announcement made this week from Saudi Arabia, U.S. President Donald Trump declared that the United States would fully lif…

The end of US sanctions on Syria signaling new era for Middle East

In a moment of considerable geopolitical significance, US President Donald Trump announced on May 13, during a high-profile visit to Saudi Arabia, that the United States would lift sanctions on Syria. The move, which came at the urging of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, marks a historic shift in US foreign policy and signals a potentially transformative phase for Syria and the broader Middle East. With the fall of President Bashar al-Ass…

Optimism Slowly Growing In Lebanon

Amid all the optimism surrounding US President Donald Trump’s Gulf tour and decision to lift sanctions on Syria this week (MEES, 16 May), a sense of opport...