Syria welcomes US Senate vote to repeal key Caesar Act sanctions

The Syrian government has publicly welcomed a decisive move by the United States Senate to repeal the stringent Caesar Act sanctions. The inclusion of the repeal within the annual US defense authorization bill marks a significant shift in American policy toward Damascus following the country's political transition.

Official Syrian gratitude and diplomatic outlook

Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani expressed his government's appreciation in a statement on social media platform X. "We express our sincere gratitude to the US Senate for its support to the Syrian people through its vote to repeal the Caesar Act," he wrote. He framed the legislative action as "a positive development that opens new horizons for cooperation and partnership between our country and the world," signaling Damascus's eagerness to reintegrate into the international economic and diplomatic community.

Legislative process and the Caesar Act's scope

The repeal was passed as part of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for fiscal year 2026, a $901 billion Pentagon policy bill. The Senate approved the measure by a 77–20 vote, following earlier passage in the House of Representatives. It now awaits President Donald Trump's signature. The Caesar Syria Civilian Protection Act, enacted in 2019, authorized sweeping secondary sanctions targeting anyone—Syrian or foreign—assisting the former Assad regime's military, intelligence, or energy sectors, severely restricting Syria's access to the global economy and reconstruction funds.

Regional implications and Türkiye's perspective

The lifting of these core sanctions could facilitate economic recovery in Syria and alter regional dynamics. It represents a major step in the normalization of relations between Damascus and Washington since the change of government in late 2024. This development is closely monitored by neighboring Türkiye, which shares a long border with Syria and has vital national security interests there. Türkiye's policy prioritizes stability along its border, the safe return of refugees, and counter-terrorism, and it assesses such diplomatic shifts in light of these core objectives and its own engagement with the Syrian authorities.