• Trump announced lifting all sanctions on Syria, surprising many in his administration.
• The decision aims to aid Syria's economic recovery after 13 years of war.
• Officials are still figuring out the specifics of implementing the announcement.
• Regional allies Turkey and Saudi Arabia have supported this move.
• Complexity of unwinding sanctions poses challenges for the U.S. administration.

President Donald Trump's unexpected announcement in Saudi Arabia regarding the lifting of all sanctions on Syria has led to confusion within his administration and offers a potential roadmap for the war-torn nation's recovery. During an investment forum, Trump declared, "I will be ordering the cessation of sanctions against Syria in order to give them a chance at greatness," a statement that was met with applause from various business leaders. This announcement caught officials at both the U.S. Treasury and State Departments by surprise, as they had not been informed of the sudden policy shift, according to Reuters and SCMP.

The lack of a prior directive from the White House meant that senior officials were left scrambling to comprehend how to unwind sanctions that have been in place in various forms since 1979. As officials at the Treasury Department began to assess the implications of Trump's announcement, the absence of specifics such as which sanctions would be lifted and when only deepened the sense of urgency to determine the implementation of this broad policy change, reports CBS News and India Times.

Despite the initial shock, Trump's decision seems to align with ongoing discussions between his administration and regional allies Turkey and Saudi Arabia, who have advocated for the normalization of relations with Syria's recently collapsed regime. The Saudi Crown Prince and Turkish President reportedly influenced Trump's decision, supporting moves that could lead to economic renewal in Syria, which faces severe challenges in rebuilding its infrastructure and health system after years of civil war, as noted by Reuters and SCMP.

However, experts caution that the dismantling of sanctions, particularly those under the "Caesar Syria Civilian Protection Act," will be fraught with complexities. These measures were designed not only to penalize the Assad regime but also to deter international support for Syrian reconstruction, requiring careful legislative and administrative coordination to amend or reverse these long-standing policies. Former U.S. official Edward Fishman emphasized that untangling the sanctions could take months and would necessitate collaboration across various governmental agencies, according to CBS News and India Times.

The announcement's reception highlights the precarious balance the U.S. must maintain between addressing humanitarian needs in Syria and accountability for past actions by the Assad regime. In public remarks, Trump's administration indicated that sanctions relief would hinge on Syria meeting certain conditions, including the expulsion of foreign terrorists and cooperation in countering the rise of ISIS in the region, as reported by Reuters and SCMP.