Donald Trump’s Middle East tour has produced immediate dividends, not for American strategic interests, but for his Gulf hosts. His abrupt decision to lift sanctions on Syria speaks volumes about who’s actually crafting US foreign policy these days.
The magic formula isn’t mystic or elaborate, but rather something outright transactional: money and personal connections.
“Oh, what I do for the crown prince!” isn’t just a throwaway line. It’s Trump’s entire Syria policy in a nutshell.
The former militant-turned-president Ahmed al-Sharaa hardly makes for an obvious American ally. Yet Trump has embraced this controversial figure on the say-so of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.
Backroom deals trump strategic considerations.
Gulf States Write the Script, Trump Reads the Lines
Trump scarcely attempted to disguise who’s pulling the strings.
During his Riyadh speech, he openly admitted the decision came after talks with Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince and Türkiye’s Erdoğan – the tell-tale signs of transaction-based diplomacy that defines his presidency.
Saudi Arabia and Türkiye have clear agendas here. They want a stable Syria that prevents refugee outflows and creates economic opportunities.
The Crown Prince seeks a counterweight to Iranian influence. Erdoğan desires a friendly neighbour that won’t empower Kurdish separatists.
But Saudi Arabia and the UAE hold vast financial reserves that Türkiye simply cannot match, giving them outsized leverage through reconstruction funding and political patronage.
The Relief-Security Equation: All Relief, No Security
As news broke in Damascus, streets filled with sincere celebrations. Everyday Syrians finally glimpsing economic hope after 14 years of devastating war.
One housewife captured the sentiment perfectly: "Trump said that he will give us a chance, and we deserve that chance."
The economic situation remains dire. Sanctions have effectively cut Syria from the international banking system, leaving citizens with limited electricity, expensive bread, and collapsed services. This humanitarian dimension is real and pressing.
Yet, there's the catch. Economic relief and security vetting needn't be mutually exclusive.
Trump’s wholesale sanctions removal surrenders leverage that might have ensured al-Sharaa’s government rejects extremism and protects minorities. For some in America, it’s the art of the giveaway, not the art of the deal.
Ahmed al-Sharaa: Once Wanted, Now Reinvented
At the heart of this policy shift stands Ahmed al-Sharaa, Syria's "attractive" president, in Trump's words.
His past as leader of al-Qaeda offshoot Hayat Tahrir al-Sham raises red flags that would typically sink any diplomatic overture.
Washington had previously put a $10 million bounty on his head.
Al-Sharaa has crafted a moderate image, appointing women and minorities to government positions. He may seem more palatable than Assad, whose regime killed over 300,000 people.
The Business Side: Trump Towers in Damascus?
Back to business, Syria’s reconstruction price tag hits an estimated $400 billion. It’s a gold mine for international investors with the right connections.
However, reports of discussions about a Trump Tower in Damascus raise eyebrows about the true motivations behind this policy pivot.
Gulf states stand ready to bankroll Syria’s rebuilding. Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and UAE have actively pushed for sanctions removal precisely to facilitate their investments.
In typical Trump fashion, business and diplomacy blend seamlessly, with the line between national interest and personal profit conveniently blurred.
Just as Trump’s GCC visit has reportedly yielded deals for the Trump Organisation with DarGlobal and DAMAC Properties, his Syria policy follows the same playbook. Economic ties are political ties, and both benefit the family brand.
Washington’s Disjointed Response: Congress Left Fuming
Trump’s unilateral approach has sidelined Congress and the security establishment. A feature, not a bug, of his governance style.
The president can waive sanctions through executive order, but many Syria sanctions originated in Congress and require legislative action to fully repeal.
This divide creates policy confusion that benefits no one except those seeking quick deals.
Congressional leaders have expressed alarm about surrendering leverage without securing reforms.
Security experts worry about radical elements within Syria's power structure.
Even within Trump’s administration, discomfort exists with this wholesale sanctions reversal. Many see sanctions relief as valuable leverage to be traded for concrete actions.
Israel’s Cold Shoulder: Netanyahu Not Impressed
For Israel, Trump’s embrace of al-Sharaa creates a security headache.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has voiced serious concerns about a former militant controlling Damascus.
Reports suggest Syria has attempted to ease these tensions through indirect talks with Israel in Abu Dhabi.
However, without concrete security guarantees, the Israelis remain wary of this sudden policy shift on their northern border.
Perhaps more worrying to them, Trump recently acknowledged Netanyahu’s obstructionism on Gaza following the release of the last American hostage via Qatari-Egyptian mediation, without Israeli involvement.
The Syria announcement could be, in part, a swipe at a frustrating ally.
A Reality Check for American Foreign Policy
Trump’s sanctions decision represents the quintessential Trump doctrine: the deal matters more than the details.
Economic relief for Syria’s suffering population is necessary, but this should come with security guarantees that protect vulnerable groups and prevent violence resurgence.
Syrian government spokesperson Hassan Al-Ahmad calls the sanctions removal "a genuine opportunity to revive the economy." However, genuine opportunities require genuine oversight.
As Syrian lawyer Nasser Eido optimistically stated, "I hope to see Syria like the UAE, Qatar or Saudi Arabia."
Such stability requires more than sanctions relief – it demands accountability from Syria’s new leaders and evidence they’ve truly broken with radical pasts.
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Read also:
Syria Pivot: UK Lifts Sanctions on Defence and Intelligence
Invisible Bridges: UAE Shapes Israel Syria Mediation
Fifty Five Years to Heal: Sanctions on Syria
