Senator Ben Cardin introduced an amendment regarding Syria
The Democratic Senator of the state of Maryland, Ben Cardin has introduced an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2025 regarding Syria that extends the Caesar Act through 2028, a law that imposes broad economic sanctions on the Syrian government and countries that deal with it.
This extension is part of the ongoing US effort to pressure Damascus and its allies.
In addition to extending the Caesar Act, the amendment includes a $90 million aid package for Syria, distributed between support for Syrian refugees and host communities, support for stability in northwestern Syria, and combating the production and smuggling of drugs, such as Captagon.
The amendment stipulated new sanctions on individuals who intentionally participate in or direct a significant diversion of humanitarian aid, and on persons who seize, confiscate, or steal property in Syria, or knowingly and directly deal with such property, as well as members of the Syrian People’s Council.
The amendment also affirms non-recognition of any Syrian government in which Syrian President Bashar al Assad is present, and calls for a strong American position against attempts to normalize relations with him, while supporting efforts to implement Security Council Resolution 2254.
Part of this amendment is to provide annual reporting on sanctions and assess foreign governments’ normalization efforts with the Syrian government, reflecting the United States’ commitment to tracking how these efforts impact US national security.
On the other hand, the Hope for Syria Act, which was approved by the US House Armed Services Committee, is added as a special Syria supplement to the Department of Defense budget for 2025, and aims to strengthen measures that prohibit recognition or normalization of relations with Damascus.
