The U.S. Congress Approves the Permanent Lifting of Sanctions Against Syria

After the House of Representatives, the U.S. Senate approved on Wednesday the repeal of the so-called "Caesar" law, adopted in 2019 during Donald Trump's first term, which imposed financial sanctions against Syria. The text now awaits promulgation by the U.S. president.

The normalization of relations between Syria and the United States is becoming a reality. On Wednesday, December 17, the U.S. Congress approved the permanent lifting of sanctions imposed by the United States against Syria under Bashar al-Assad, intended to allow the return of investments to this country devastated by years of civil war.

The repeal of the so-called "Caesar" law, adopted in 2019 during Donald Trump's first term and which imposed these sanctions, is included in the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which the U.S. Senate approved Wednesday by 77 votes in favor and 20 against.

The House of Representatives had already voted in favor last week, and the text now awaits promulgation by the U.S. president.

The U.S. government has indicated its support for the repeal of this Caesar law. Its enforcement had already been suspended twice for six months following President Trump's announcement in May lifting sanctions against Syria as part of the normalization of relations between the two countries.

The Caesar law adopted in 2019 imposed drastic U.S. sanctions against Bashar al-Assad's government, banning the country from the international banking system and financial transactions in U.S. dollars.

Despite the suspension of its enforcement, many U.S. officials believed that as long as it was not repealed, it could undermine investor confidence.

A decisive step for Syria's reconstruction

Syrian leader Ahmed al-Charaa was received at the White House by President Trump on November 10, a first for a Syrian head of state since the country's independence in 1946 and a milestone for the former jihadist who, in less than a year in power, has brought his country out of isolation.

Donald Trump had already met the Syrian leader during a trip to the Gulf in May, announcing then the lifting of U.S. sanctions.

After 13 years of civil war, Syria is seeking to secure funds for its reconstruction, the cost of which could exceed 216 billion dollars, according to the World Bank.

"The repeal today of the Caesar law is a decisive step to give the Syrian people a real chance to rebuild after decades of unimaginable suffering," said Democratic Senator Jeanne Shaheen.