Syria between US and Western sanctions and cooperation with Türkiye and Russia

The Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs set the record straight that Ankara’s policy toward Syria is based on supporting national reconciliation, with an emphasis on preserving Syria’s territorial integrity and ensuring its security by combating terrorist groups.

Reconstruction and the lifting of international sanctions on Syria are among the priorities of this policy.

Türkiye is determined to continue supporting Syria in the coming period, through bilateral cooperation based on the agreements signed between the two parties, and assistance in various fields that contribute to enhancing stability and prosperity.

In this context, the Turkish Foreign Ministry emphasized the importance of integrating Syria into its regional and international environment, calling for practical steps to support the new Syrian government’s efforts toward security and development, including lifting sanctions, the continuation of which it believes will hinder the path to national recovery.

Ankara has held consultations with international partners, including the United States, to push for the easing of sanctions and promote dialogue between Syria and the international community, with the aim of opening up broader horizons for future cooperation.

As for Moscow’s position, the stand is clear as well… Sanctions harm civilians and must be lifted.

Russia, through its Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Vasily Nebenzia, renewed its call for the lifting of Western sanctions imposed on Syria, arguing that these measures harm the Syrian people more than they harm successive governments.

In his address to the Security Council, Nebenzia questioned whether the donor countries imposing sanctions would finally adhere to the principles of neutrality and humanity, or whether they would continue their policies, which he described as suffocating against Syrian civilians.

He added, “We’ll continue to support Syria and its people in every way possible”.

For his part, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov affirmed that Moscow will continue to demand the unconditional lifting of sanctions imposed on Syria, noting that the sanctions didn’t weaken the previous Syrian government led by Bashar al Assad and continue to impact the people even under the new government.

He also accused Western countries of blackmail, noting that the European Union has conditioned any easing of sanctions on removing Russian influence from Syrian territory.

In an interview with The New York Times, the Syrian transitional president, Ahmed al Sharaa, called on the United States to lift sanctions imposed on his country, noting that they were imposed on a regime that no longer exists.

He affirmed that his government is open to cooperation with many countries, most notably Russia and Türkiye, in the context of reconstruction and enhancing security.

Ahmed al Sharaa pointed to the devastating effects of the sanctions on the Syrian economy, saying that vital sectors such as agriculture, services, and tourism have collapsed due to these measures.

According to press sources, Washington has set eight basic conditions before considering lifting sanctions, including the elimination of remaining chemical weapons and full cooperation in the fight against terrorism.

The conditions also include the expulsion of foreign mercenaries, some of whom were part of the forces that fought alongside the transitional government and some of whom later assumed official positions.

Although most Western countries recognize the legitimacy of the new government, sanctions remain in place.

Observers believe these governments exhibit a duality in their approach to the Syrian issue, particularly given their disregard for repeated Israeli violations within Syrian territory.

This, they say, reveals a clear bias in their regional policies.