Today, Martha, Jess, Les, and Amy discuss a notable shift in U.S. foreign policy as the White House lifts most economic sanctions on Syria. For over a decade, those sanctions defined Syria’s economy and global isolation, aimed squarely at weakening the Assad regime during the country’s brutal civil war. But with Assad’s fall late last year and a new interim government under Ahmed al-Shara now in power, the U.S. is signaling support for stabilization and reconstruction, while maintaining targeted restrictions on individuals linked to past atrocities and terrorism.

Is this a genuine turning point for Syria—or a risky bet on fragile leadership? What message does this send to allies and adversaries about the durability of U.S. sanctions? And as reconstruction begins, who gains from Syria’s reintegration—and who’s left behind?

Check out the answers to these questions and more in this episode of Fault Lines.

Check out the sources that helped shape our Fellows’ discussions: 

https://www.politico.com/news/2025/06/30/trump-scraps-syria-sanctions-regime-00433633   

https://www.wsj.com/world/middle-east/israel-interested-in-expanding-normalization-treaties-to-syria-lebanon-d583d184 

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/06/30/world/middleeast/gulf-states-invest-syria-iran.html 

https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2025/03/14/syria-sanctions-caeser-act-sharaa/ 

Follow our experts on Twitter: 

@marthamillerdc

@lestermunson 

@NotTVJessJones

@amykmitchell

Like what we're doing here? 

Be sure to rate, review, and subscribe. 

And don't forget to follow @faultlines_pod and @masonnatsec on Twitter!

We are also on YouTube, and watch today's episode here: https://youtu.be/EX_q4NoqQeQ 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.