The European Union announced the removal of broad economic sanctions on Syria, marking a significant shift in the bloc’s Middle East policy, even as it simultaneously escalated punitive measures against Russia over its war in Ukraine.
EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas confirmed the decision in a post on social media platform X, stating, “We want to help the Syrian people rebuild a new, inclusive and peaceful Syria.” While the lifting of sanctions is aimed at facilitating economic recovery after over a decade of civil war, restrictions will remain on individuals and entities tied to the Assad regime, as well as on military and surveillance-related exports.
The move follows U.S. President Donald Trump’s announcement last week that he intends to lift American sanctions on Syria. Despite the coordinated transatlantic thaw, EU officials remain wary of Syria’s direction under a new government led by the Islamist Hayat Tahrir al-Sham group. “We don’t have a choice,” Kallas said, referencing regional instability and humanitarian urgency.
Meanwhile, the EU introduced its 17th package of sanctions against Russia, focusing on its so-called “shadow fleet”—a network of vessels used to evade existing restrictions on oil exports. The new measures target 189 ships, adding to a total of 342 now banned from EU ports.
“Sanctions are not a magic weapon,” analyst Mark Galeotti told DW. “But they inflict costs.” The UK also announced coordinated sanctions against Russian military, energy, and financial sectors, underscoring a united Western front.
Read more via Deutsche Welle