US Secretary of State: We’ll use the Syria sanctions waiver and renew it every 180 days
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio revealed that there are moves within the US Congress aimed at invoking the exemption clause stipulated in the “Caesar Act” as a prelude to lifting sanctions imposed on Syria.
He explained that US President Donald Trump intends to activate this exemption as a first step, with the requirement to renew it every 180 days.
Rubio made the remarks to reporters after participating in an informal meeting of NATO foreign ministers in Antalya, Türkiye.
Rubio noted that the initial sanctions waiver will allow humanitarian aid to Syria without exposing donors to sanctions, but he emphasized that a full lifting of sanctions is still premature at this stage.
He added, “If we see tangible progress from the Syrian government, we will ask Congress to consider permanently lifting the sanctions”.
Regarding reconstruction efforts, Rubio said that easing sanctions would have a clear positive impact on Syria’s ability to restore its infrastructure and provide basic services to its citizens.
He noted that the US administration is prepared to support any steps that contribute to peace and stability there, in cooperation with regional partners such as Türkiye.
The US Secretary of State also expressed optimism about Syria’s future, describing its stability as one of the most important positive transformations in the region.
He emphasized that the current Syrian administration seeks to build an inclusive society that embraces cultural and religious pluralism, is working toward eliminating terrorist groups, and is eager to establish peaceful relations with neighboring countries, including Israel.
He also explained that Damascus had expressed its willingness to cooperate with the United States to safely dispose of its chemical weapons stockpile, a move welcomed by Washington.
Rubio concluded his remarks by emphasizing that Syria’s future must be built on peaceful coexistence among its various components, far removed from the armed conflicts that have destabilized the region for years.
He noted that countries such as Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Qatar have expressed their willingness to support this reform process.
It’s worth noting that US President Donald Trump had previously announced, during his participation in the Saudi-US Investment Forum, his intention to lift sanctions on Syria, following discussions with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.
