The American President’s order entered Donald Trump The executive of lifting sanctions on Syria today, Tuesday, after being signed yesterday, Monday, in a move that was expected since he announced this during his visit to Saudi Arabia last May, giving Damascus “a new opportunity” to recover and build.
The text of the executive order stated that “the circumstances that led to the previous sanctions may have changed,” noting “positive developments in the past six months”, most notably “the measures taken by the new Syrian government headed Ahmed Al -Shara“.
With the decision to cancel previous penalties imposed under executive orders of former presidents during the past years, Trump’s executive order did not lift the penalties for the ousted president Bashar al -Assad Or those associated with it, stressing the need for accountability mechanisms to continue for the ousted regime.
1- What included the decision?
Trump’s executive order was canceled 6 executive orders that followed by the two main governments George Bush Jr. AndBarack ObamaIt included sanctions against the Syrian state and the Syrian economy.
The most important was the executive order that imposed a state of emergency on Syria since 2004 under a decision of former President George W. Bush, which meant that the United States considers the situation in Syria an exceptional threat to American national security.
This was the executive order (No. 13338) the legal basis for freeing the origins of Syrian personalities and entities and imposing a wide ban on American companies from dealing with the institutions of the Syrian state and preventing the export of American technologies to Syria.
Trump’s executive order granted exemptions for export and trade restrictions imposed under the Syrian Accounting Law, especially with regard to civil use.
Consequently, the executive order allowed dealing with the Syrian government, state institutions and the central bank, allowing the possibility of promoting the Syrian economy and attracting investments.
The executive order requested a review of the classification of Syria as a state sponsor of terrorism, a law linked to sanctions imposed on Syria since 1979, through an independent evaluation of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs raised to Congress.
As part of the executive order, Foreign Minister Trump ordered Marco Rubio to review the classification of Syrian President Ahmed Al -Shara as a “global terrorist”.
2- Who lifted the sanctions?
According to the executive order, the foreign asset control office removed 518 individuals and Syria from the sanctions list, with the framework of supporting the reconstruction process and supporting the new Syrian government.
This included Syrian governmental and financial institutions such as the Central Bank, oil and gas institutions, ports, or companies working in the fields of construction, energy and transportation, and individuals working in support of reconstruction, “to enhance the stability and peace of Syria.”
3- Who remained penalties?
The executive order of the American President clearly stipulated that the sanctions against Assad and those associated with his regime, who supported him financially and militarily and those who committed war crimes and against humanity against the Syrian people remain, and sanctions against the Islamic State and groups described by the United States as extremist and loyal to Iran remained.
The Foreign Asset Monitoring Office ranked 139 individuals and entities linked to the previous system under the executive order 13894 (in its amended form), which Trump signed with his first presidential term in 2019, in addition to other modified penalties.
The Office has distributed individuals and entities covered by sanctions in 8 categories, which are former officials of the Assad regime, people who acted on behalf of officials in the previous regime, people who threatened peace, security or stability in Syria, people involved in activities related to Captagon, people who provided material support to the previous regime, people who provided material support to persons covered by penalties, persons owned or subject For individuals covered by penalties, adult members of the families of people covered by penalties.
The classification also included two people and 4 entities covered by the executive order 13902 signed by Trump in 2020 to impose sanctions on Iran, and Executive Order No. 13224 (in its modified form) signed by President Bush Jr. in 2001 to impose sanctions related to the events of September 11.
4- Is the Caesar Law raised?
The executive did not fall Caesar Law Which was approved by Congress in 2019, but a legal paved to freeze some of its penalties. An American president cannot amend or suspend a law issued by Congress.
The executive order directed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to study the provision of legal conditions that allow temporarily suspending sanctions under Article 7431 of the same law, and it includes stopping the indiscriminate shelling against civilians, release of political detainees, ensuring the arrival of aid and the involvement of Damascus with a real political transition.
If the US State Department decides that the conditions may have been fulfilled, it can submit a report to Congress within 30 days to suspend Caesl’s penalties entirely or partially, while retaining the right to re -impose them at any time.
5- What is the importance of the executive order?
Trump’s decision is the most prominent shift in US policy towards Syria for more than two decades.
Its importance does not only lie in dropping the sanctions that give the country an opportunity to advance all levels, but also in the political symbolism to end the state of emergency, which was used to justify economic and diplomatic restrictions.
Diplomatic, the lifting of sanctions may allow more flexible approaches to Damascus in international forums during the coming period.