The US envoy to Syria: Syria is open for business

Following his meeting with the Syrian transitional president in Istanbul, US Special Envoy to Syria Thomas Barrack announced on Saturday that Syria is now open for international investment following a series of political developments, including an official meeting with the new Syrian leadership.

Barrack wrote on X, “Following the historic founding meeting between the US government and the new Syrian government, held in the presence of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and his Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, we can say that Syria is now open for business”.

Barrack expressed his gratitude to former US President Donald Trump for his decision to lift sanctions on Syria, saying, “Thank you, President Trump,” referring to the role this decision played in facilitating re-engagement with the transitional Syrian government and creating a new economic climate that would enable the launch of development and investment projects.

The meeting between Barrack, Syrian transitional President Ahmed al Sharaa, and Foreign Minister Asaad al Shaibani came as part of implementing a new US vision to support stability and peace in Syria, according to a statement issued by the US Embassy in Türkiye.

Barrack stressed that the meeting falls within efforts to revitalize bilateral relations and enable the new Syrian government to overcome the economic and humanitarian crises that have accumulated over the past years.

During the meeting, President al Sharaa expressed his appreciation for the swift US response, specifically mentioning Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s decision to suspend the Caesar Act sanctions for 180 days, the US Treasury’s license (License No. 25), and other measures aimed at easing the economic pressure on the country.

For his part, Barrack explained that the United States is committed to supporting the Syrian people, and that accelerating the lifting of sanctions was necessary to ensure that Washington’s regional allies can provide the vital supplies, financial aid, and energy that civilians need.

The US envoy emphasized that the goal of these steps is to create a safe and stable environment that encourages Syrians to remain and opens the way for real economic opportunities.

He also linked the lifting of sanctions to achieving broader goals, including ending the presence of ISIS and strengthening regional and international partnerships with the new Syrian government.

Barrack praised what he described as “positive shifts” in the Syrian government’s positions, particularly with regard to managing the foreign fighter issue and dealing with camps and detention centers in the northeast, in addition to the relative openness in regional relations, including with Israel.

The meeting’s final statement affirmed both sides’ commitment to continuing dialogue and strengthening economic cooperation, with a focus on supporting the private sector and investing in development projects involving partners from Türkiye, the Gulf states, Europe, and the United States.

Barrack described the meeting as “historic” by all standards, noting that it represents a starting point for building a new image for Syria in the international community, one that is more open and cooperative, and less dependent on foreign aid, through a promising investment environment supported internationally.