This on-the-record briefing, moderated by MEI's Zeina Al-Shaib, discussed Syria’s post-sanctions era. Syria’s transitional president, Ahmad al-Sharaa, is reorienting the country toward the West and key regional partners, ending decades of isolation within Iran’s and Russia’s orbits. Crucially, both the United States and the European Union have suspended sanctions to support the country’s transition. With Syria at a crossroads, what does the post-sanctions landscape look like?
This briefing featured Amb. (ret.) Robert Ford, the last US ambassador to serve in Syria and Senior Fellow at the Middle East Institute (MEI). Also featured was Charles Lister, Senior Fellow at MEI and head of the Institute’s Syria Initiative.
Our experts discussed the US’s policy about-face toward the interim Syrian authorities and the warming of relations between Washington and Damascus; what the termination of sanctions means for foreign investment in Syria; Iran’s potential spoiler role; the confidence boost President Sharaa is enjoying domestically; as well as the direction of Syria’s relations with its neighbors, particularly Israel, Turkey, and the Gulf states.