The United States and Britain lifted sanctions on Syrian President Ahmad Al-Sharaa on Friday, following a similar step by the United Nations Security Council, according to Reuters.
The European Union has affirmed that it would also remove all sanctions on Syria’s new President.
Therefore, the stage is set for an upcoming landmark meeting between Al-Sharaa and the US President Donald Trump next week.
Both Washington and London also removed sanctions on Syria’s Interior Minister Anas Khattab, according to notices on their websites.
The State Department said in a statement that these moves come in response to the progress made by the new Syrian government after the overthrow of (former President) Bashar Al-Assad.
In April, the British government lifted sanctions on Syria’s interior and defense ministries. Syria’s General Intelligence Directorate, Air Force Intelligence Agency and National Security Bureau were also emitted from the list of entities subject to financial sanctions by the U.K.
“We remain committed to supporting a peaceful and inclusive Syrian-led and Syrian-owned transition to help build a better future for all Syrians,” a European Commission spokesperson said.
Trump is set to welcome Al-Sharaa at the White House on Monday, marking a remarkable milestone in the diplomatic relations between Washington and Damascus.
Since the fall of Al-Assad, the country has been led by Al-Sharaa who has been attempting to rebuild Syria’s relations with international community after a brutal civil war that tore Syria apart.
In recent months, Damascus have warmed relation with several countries around the world with the US lifting sanctions and European powers advancing closer ties.
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