The administration of U.S. President Donald Trump is closely monitoring the actions of Syria’s interim leaders as Washington determines its future policy toward the war-torn country.
State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce stated on March 21 that there are no immediate plans to ease sanctions on Damascus, reinforcing Washington’s stance on Syria’s governance.
“We are broadly monitoring the actions of the interim Syrian authorities on a range of issues as we consider the future of U.S. policy toward Syria,” Bruce said during a press briefing. She emphasized the need for an inclusive civilian-led government that ensures effective and accountable national institutions.
Her remarks offer insight into the Trump administration’s approach to Syria, a topic on which Washington has remained relatively silent since Trump took office on January 20. The key issues for the U.S. remain the future of American troops in northwestern Syria and the possibility of lifting sanctions.
Syria has faced a series of Western-imposed sanctions due to the rule of Bashar al-Assad, who was ousted last year by rebel groups led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), a faction previously affiliated with al-Qaeda.
Asked whether the U.S. is considering easing sanctions, Bruce stated: “The dynamics have not changed, and no plans have been altered so far.”
Figures from HTS have taken power in Syria, with its leader, Ahmed Sharaa, now serving as the country’s interim president. Although HTS officially disbanded in January, U.S. sanctions remain a significant challenge for Sharaa’s administration.
Meanwhile, the United Nations reports that nine out of ten Syrians live in poverty, with the country still grappling with the devastation of a civil war that began in 2011.
