European foreign ministers have agreed to meet in January to discuss lifting sanctions on Syria after the removal of President Bashar al-Assad. The move comes as top Western and Middle East diplomats and ministers convened in Saudi Arabia, the first such regional meeting since al-Assad’s downfall.
The European Union’s foreign policy chief, Kaja Kallas, stated that the bloc wants to see an inclusive government in Syria that respects women’s rights and other groups. However, the EU can quickly reverse any openings on sanctions if certain conditions are not met.
Saudi Arabia’s foreign minister, Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, called for the lifting of sanctions on Syria, emphasizing their impact on the country’s development and reconstruction.
Syria’s new Foreign Minister Asaad Hassan al-Shaibani attended the meeting, alongside ministers from Saudi Arabia, Egypt, the UAE, Qatar, Bahrain, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, and Turkey. The talks also included participation from US Undersecretary of State John Bass, German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock, and British Foreign Secretary David Lammy.
The meeting’s communique stressed the need to lift sanctions to support Syria’s rebuilding and expressed concern over Israel’s incursions into the occupied Golan Heights.
Analysts believe that the Biden administration and European countries are moving towards removing or freezing sanctions, with some sanctions exemptions already issued for humanitarian purposes. The EU’s Kallas mentioned potential priorities for relief, including those sanctions hindering a country’s development and access to banking services.
However, not all parties agree on relaxing sanctions. Germany’s Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock emphasized the need to maintain sanctions against al-Assad’s allies who committed serious crimes during the Syrian war.
Source: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/1/12/top-western-arab-leaders-gather-in-saudi-arabia-to-discuss-syria