The Ball Is in Syria's Court

Asharq Al-Awsat

21-05-2025

The sanctions imposed by the United States on the Bashar al-Assad regime have been top of Syrians' minds in the past five months since following the regime's swift collapse in December 2024. The expectation had been that these sanctions would be lifted after the regime they had targeted was toppled.
Despite repeated demands by Syrians, both officials and citizens, and the many efforts by numerous Arab and foreign countries, that did not happen; even as they explained that sanctions made Syria's recovery impossible and complicated efforts to normalize relations between Syria and its regional and international partners.
Lifting the sanctions will improve political, economic, social, and even security conditions. With the sanctions still in place, Syrians had not been freed of the burdens imposed on them by the Assad regime. Indeed, they had been imposed in response to the actions of the regime, its policies, individuals, and crimes.
The sanctions continue to weigh on Syrians and their international relations; things have even gotten worse in some respects. One repercussion is that in several regions, security conditions have deteriorated due to the poor living conditions and the broad sense that there is hope for meaningful change. Syrians were particularly worried about the prospects of the reconstruction process needed to begin reckoning with the Assad era and move beyond its long and disastrous legacy.
Instead of seeing the sanctions lifted, Syrians were confronted with demands and conditions, some of which require time and effort. Indeed, the country is completely destroyed, conditions are extremely dire for both the Syrian people and government and Syria is struggling to mend serious divisions and contain internal conflicts, though most are temporary and not fundamental.
The current state of affairs in Syria, and the risk of a stalemate similar to that seen under the Assad regime, seem to have compelled regional actors to take actions that end the deadlock and avert stagnation.
In truth, Syria's Arab support network, first and foremost the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, has been seeking to help Syria recover for two years now. They have worked to alleviate the suffering of its people and facilitate efforts to ensure a return to normalcy.
The recent visit of US President Donald Trump to Riyadh, as well as his talks with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, presented an opportunity for a breakthrough. Trump announced that sanctions would be lifted following his discussions with Crown Prince Mohammed, effectively ending a Syrian quagmire that rivals - if it is not even worse - the survival of the Assad regime.
While the lifting of sanctions gives Syria a chance to overcome its crises and alleviate the suffering of its people, it is only half of the solution for Syria. The other half can only be achieved through the efforts of the Syrians themselves, both its government and citizens.
The government must become responsible, inclusive, competent, and open, ensuring the broadest possible representation. It must adopt a plan for a national recovery that covers political, economic, and social issues and can be quantified, assessed, and adapted.
For their part, citizens must resolve their domestic conflicts and disputes over contentious issues, focusing instead on collectively lifting themselves up: families and citizens must help each other out of the hole that the Assad regime had left them in. They must stand together in backing a recovery effort led by the state that lays the groundwork for the ultimate goal: reconstruction.
Reconstruction does not only encompass physical structures, institutions, or political and economic life. It also entails rebuilding citizens' lives in the fullest sense. In addition to technocratic solutions and employment opportunities, Syria must address the war's devastating impact: uncovering the fate of the missing and disappeared, facilitating the return of displaced persons and refugees, compensating those who suffered losses, and reconciling communities.
Unless the Syrian government and people do their part now that sanctions are being lifted, things will not change significantly. Without a collective commitment to the country's recovery, Syria will fail to meet the aspirations of its people or their hopes for the future.
Trump was right when he said that lifting sanctions gives 'the Syrian people a chance.' Judging by their initial reactions, it seems that Syrians are indeed determined to rise from their ashes and move forward with reconstruction and their journey to the future.