The United States Congress has permanently ended the former president’s rule, paving the way for the resumption of investments in the Middle Eastern country.
Congressmen and senators have given their approval this morning to the lifting of what is known as , imposed in 2019 and which included strong restrictions against the country. The regulation had been suspended on two previous occasions by the American president himself, but has now been completely withdrawn, as the Syrian transitional president had been requesting.
The Foreign Relations Committee of the US Senate has indicated in a statement that the withdrawal of this measure has been “guaranteed” for the next fiscal year – although the measure had already been approved by the House of Representatives, so it will now remain in Trump’s hands for ratification.
“These sanctions were imposed during the Al Assad dictatorship in Syria, but since the regime fell, we support economic development and investments in Syria to promote the country’s stability,” the text states, calling the measure a “decisive step so that the Syrian people have a real opportunity to rebuild the country after decades of unimaginable suffering.”
In this sense, he pointed out that the withdrawal of sanctions has been consolidated after “months of diplomatic efforts and bipartite coordination”, and after a vote that was resolved with 77 votes in favor and 20 against.
to explode
Investing in Syria after the fall of the Assad regime, now led by the transitional government of Ahmed Al Shara, presents a panorama of high risk but with the potential for high rewards. The new Government actively seeks to attract foreign investment and the diaspora for reconstruction. The US is positioning itself, with this uprising, to be among the first to take advantage of these opportunities.
The country requires million-dollar investments to rebuild its devastated infrastructure, which opens significant opportunities in various sectors, such as public works, but it also looks at the pillars of the past, which can be revived: from textile sectors, such as leather, to chemicals, electronics, crafts and the pharmaceutical industry.
An aerial view of the residential area of Ghouta, 12 years after Assad’s chemical massacre last August.
The transitional government has modified investment laws to attract capital and is seeking to reintegrate the country into the international scene. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has already observed signs of economic recovery and improvement in investor sentiment under the new regime. The country has a strategic location and natural resources (such as agriculture and minerals), which, if managed effectively in a stable environment, could generate economic growth.
The challenges are also important, of course, starting with political instability and security. Despite the regime change, internal tensions and the threat from unpredictable neighbors, such as Israel, persist. Security in the northeast of the country remains a challenge, with growing humanitarian needs. The Syrian economy has also contracted dramatically, with an estimated GDP loss of $800 billion during the nearly 14 years of conflict. The Syrian pound is on the brink of collapse and the majority of the population depends on humanitarian aid.
There are no significant international donors in sight for this necessary reconstruction and lack of liquidity is a major problem.
Reconstruction promise
Al Shara was named transitional president after the fall of Al Assad in December 2024 due to an offensive by jihadists and rebels led by (HTS), then led by the now president, known then by his nom de guerre, Abu Mohamed al Golani.
On December 8, on the anniversary of the end of the regime, the Syrian president promised that the entire country will be rebuilt after the civil war and asked citizens to join forces to help consolidate stability. Thousands of people came out to celebrate this day, en masse, in the vicinity of Umayyad Square in Damascus.
“From north to south and from east to west, we will rebuild a strong Syria, with a structure worthy of its present and its past, a structure worthy of the ancient civilization that is Syria,” Al Shara said in a speech after taking part in the dawn prayer in Damascus. “We will rebuild with obedience to almighty God, with support for the oppressed and with justice among the people,” he added. The president called on the population to “unify” their efforts to help shore up stability and build a “strong” country in this stage of transition.
