US Seeks Sanctions Relief for Syrian Leader Before Trump Meeting
The United States, according to Bloomberg, is lobbying the UN Security Council to lift sanctions on Syria's leader, paving the way for a White House visit. This comes after years of the US painting the Syrian government as an irredeemable pariah. It appears that 'decade of civil war' conveniently ends when a new deal needs to be cut (or a new strongman needs affirming). Remember when the US
vehemently opposed any normalization with Syria, even sanctioning countries that dared to engage with Damascus? That was yesterday's news, apparently. One might wonder at the sudden rehabilitation of a leader previously condemned for war crimes. Perhaps a geopolitical calculus has shifted, creating a convenient amnesia for past atrocities when oil, counter-terrorism, or regional power plays are on
the table. The shift signals less about Syrian reform and more about American transactional diplomacy—where principles are malleable and 'enemies' are just future business partners waiting for the right moment.