logo
Trump says Syria leader backs Israel ties but has 'lot of work to do' - Region

Trump says Syria leader backs Israel ties but has 'lot of work to do' - Region

Al-Ahram Weekly14-05-2025

US President Donald Trump said Wednesday that Syrian interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa backed normalisation with Israel in the future, after the two leaders met as Washington lifted sanctions on Syria.
"I told him (Sharaa), I hope you're going to join (the Abraham Accords) once you're straightened out and he said yes. But they have a lot of work to do," Donald Trump told reporters aboard Air Force one while heading to Doha from Riyadh.
Trump's decision to lift US sanctions on Syria signals a major shift in the war-battered country's efforts to rebuild, offering hope of recovery but leaving significant obstacles in place.
In Riyadh during a Middle East tour, the US president said he "will be ordering the cessation of sanctions against Syria in order to give them a chance at greatness".
Syria's foreign ministry hailed the move as a "pivotal turning point", while Finance Minister Mohammed Barnieh said it would help bring in investment and restore key services.
Barnieh said the decision would "help Syria in building its institutions, providing essential services to the people and create great opportunities to attract investment and restore confidence".
Jihad Yazigi, editor of economic publication The Syria Report, said "US sanctions were by far the most impactful" of all those imposed during former president Bashar al-Assad's rule.
Since ousting Assad in December, Syria's new Islamist leadership has pushed for the lifting of Western sanctions.
US measures cut Syria off from the global financial system for more than a decade, hampering trade and aid transfers.
"The most immediate impact will be a facilitation of the transfer of funds from Gulf states and development aid in general to Syria," Yazigi said.
Financial transfers
A United Nations report in February said 90 percent of Syrians live in poverty and a quarter are jobless.
Sanctions relief for the banking sector could open access to the US financial system and spur trade, investment and jobs, Yazigi said.
The move would lead to "a facilitation of transfers in and out of Syria, and it's going to improve trade activity, it is going to improve investment, and it's going to generate a lot of business opportunities and employment", he added.
As for the Syrian pound, which lost around 90 percent of its value during the war, the influx of US dollars could help strengthen the currency, according to the expert.
Since the start of the civil war in 2011, the pound has plunged from 50 to about 10,000-12,000 against the greenback.
But Yazigi warned the currency would remain unstable if the government prints money to raise salaries.
Challenges ahead
Syria still faces numerous challenges threatening its recovery.
"The procedure for lifting sanctions is quite long, even with the presence of political willingness," said Syrian economic expert Karam Shaar.
"It would still take months for these sanctions to be lifted because you're talking also about sanctions legislation, some of them are under acts as opposed to executive orders," he added.
While executive orders can be reversed easily, acts require congressional action.
Sanctions relief is also but one step in the lengthy reconstruction path for Syria, which the UN estimates could cost more than $400 billion.
The United Nations estimates rebuilding Syria could cost more than $400 billion.
Around 1.87 million Syrians have returned to their home regions since Assad's fall, according to International Organisation for Migration, but the UN body says lack of jobs and services is holding back wider returns.
Sanctions relief allows Syria to plan broader reconstruction, Yazigi said, but alone it is "not sufficient".
"There simply aren't enough funds," he said, noting few countries were willing to pour in the tens of billions of dollars needed by Syria.
In February, about 20 Arab and Western countries pledged support for Syria's transition at a Paris conference.
Some Western countries have relaxed certain sanctions, but demand progress on rights, minority protections and the fight against terrorism before going further.
Follow us on:
Facebook
Instagram
Whatsapp
Short link:

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Mohamed Idris Named African Union Permanent Observer to the UN
Mohamed Idris Named African Union Permanent Observer to the UN

CairoScene

time2 hours ago

  • CairoScene

Mohamed Idris Named African Union Permanent Observer to the UN

Idris's previous roles include serving as Egypt's Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador to Ethiopia, and Permanent Representative to the African Union. Jun 25, 2025 Egyptian diplomat Mohamed Idris has been appointed as the African Union's (AU) permanent observer to the United Nations and will also serve as head of the AU's mission in New York. The appointment was received as a vote of confidence in Egyptian diplomatic capabilities within both regional and international institutions. Idris brings extensive experience in multilateral diplomacy, particularly in matters of peace, security, and development across the African continent. His previous roles include serving as Egypt's Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador to Ethiopia, and Permanent Representative to the African Union. He is currently a member of the UN Secretary-General's High-Level Advisory Board on Effective Multilateralism, which is tasked with evaluating the UN's peacebuilding architecture. The announcement comes at a time when Egypt continues to play a central role in African affairs. The country currently holds a seat on the AU Peace and Security Council and remains active in promoting peacekeeping and post-conflict recovery efforts. Egyptian leadership in African development was further underscored by President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi's stewardship of the AU's Post-Conflict Reconstruction and Development file and his ongoing chairmanship of the AUDA-NEPAD Steering Committee.

Palestinian families secure trucks, humanitarian warehouses, enabling first aid distribution to households in months
Palestinian families secure trucks, humanitarian warehouses, enabling first aid distribution to households in months

Mada

time5 hours ago

  • Mada

Palestinian families secure trucks, humanitarian warehouses, enabling first aid distribution to households in months

Palestinians in northern Gaza received notifications to collect household aid from United Nations warehouses for the first time in months on Thursday, after dozens of trucks carrying vital supplies entered the strip under the protection of clans and families yesterday. The trucks safely reached warehouses operated by the World Food Program (WFP) and other international organizations in Gaza City. The distribution of aid has become a site of tension between Israel and humanitarian organizations in recent months as Israel has imposed a total blockade on Gaza and starvation has become pervasive. Israel initially blocked the most effective aid distribution mechanism — the UN distributing aid via households — sowing chaos at bakeries that were subject to theft and overcrowding. Israel then abetted the theft of trucks leaking the delivery route to thieves and targeting security forces tasked with securing supplies. Then, with humanitarian aid all but choked off, the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation — a shady joint venture with ties to American and Israeli intelligence and military figures — had complete sway over distribution. Since the foundation began operations in May, at least 549 people have been killed while attempting to get food in what Palestinians have described as 'aid traps.' The entrance of trucks on Wednesday through the Zikim border crossing came after consultations among northern Gaza's clans and families to ensure the safe passage of the trucks, Hosny al-Mughanny, the head of the Higher Commission for Tribal Affairs, told Mada Masr. Residents were deployed around the Khaldi and Tawam neighborhoods — areas previously targeted by looters. 'We issued instructions to all clans and families in northern Gaza to stand united against the gangs and looters, to spread out in groups in areas where trucks have previously been obstructed and respond firmly to anyone who attempts to come near,' he said. According to Mughanny, a prior meeting had taken place between the commission in northern Gaza and several relief organizations, including the WFP, resulting in an agreement to collaborate to ensure the safe arrival and distribution of aid to storage facilities. Yazan Ahmed and several young men in his family joined the groups protecting Wednesday's convoy. Some climbed onto the trucks, while others formed human chains in locations along the convoy routes. 'Some looters tried to approach the convoy routes, but we immediately dealt with them and forced them to go back to where they came from,' Ahmed told Mada Masr. 'People are literally dying of hunger because of aid thieves. Prices keep rising because they steal the aid and then resell it at exorbitant prices.' The Sahm unit, affiliated with Hamas's security forces and tasked with protecting aid convoys, issued a warning on Wednesday urging residents to stay clear of the trucks. The unit said any interference would be met with force, either by its members or by the clans securing the aid. Following the successful delivery, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered the military to provide a plan within 48 hours to prevent the 'takeover' of aid by Hamas. The order came after Israel halted aid deliveries to Gaza and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich threatened to quit the government if immediate action was not taken to stop aid from reaching the group, an unnamed Israeli official told Channel 12. Nahed Shehaiber, the head of the Private Transport Association in Gaza, told Mada Masr that the Israeli military has routinely obstructed the delivery of aid to warehouses by forcing trucks to stop in certain areas, facilitating their looting by armed gangs. While none of the 45 trucks that entered northern Gaza on Wednesday was looted, he said, about 70 trucks let in through the south were intercepted and stripped of their contents by armed gangs in southern Khan Younis. The trucks were intended for WFP warehouses in central Gaza. Shehaiber called for the model implemented in the north to be extended to the south to ensure aid reaches those in need throughout the strip. On Thursday, some residents began receiving messages from international organizations notifying them to collect aid. Adham Hassan said he was contacted by Anera, an international NGO, and instructed to visit their Sheikh Radwan office in northern Gaza City to pick up a bag of flour — the first time he has received such a message in over three months.

SPIEF 2025 deepens Egypt-Russia strategic partnership - Economy
SPIEF 2025 deepens Egypt-Russia strategic partnership - Economy

Al-Ahram Weekly

time8 hours ago

  • Al-Ahram Weekly

SPIEF 2025 deepens Egypt-Russia strategic partnership - Economy

Russia underscored its deepening strategic partnership with Egypt during the 28th St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF 2025), highlighting their ongoing cooperation as a cornerstone of Moscow's engagement with the Arab world. Since Egypt's designation as the forum's guest country in 2022, bilateral relations between both nations have expanded significantly across energy, infrastructure, investment, and education. This marked Cairo as a key partner in Russia's vision for a balanced and multipolar global economy. "The collaboration with Egypt continues to serve as a model for regional cooperation rooted in mutual respect and shared interests," Anton Kobyakov, advisor to the president of the Russian Federation and executive secretary of the SPIEF organizing committee, said at the forum's final press conference. He emphasized that Russia remains committed to fostering ties with Arab states — including Bahrain, the 2025 guest country, and Saudi Arabia, which will hold the role in 2026 — as part of its broader strategy to enhance connectivity across the Global South. Kobyakov also praised Egypt's pivotal role in building consensus on economic sovereignty and its contributions to joint initiatives launched during and after its guest country status. 'Egypt has proven to be a reliable and visionary partner,' he noted. 'Our cooperation reflects the core values of SPIEF—shared growth, balanced dialogue, and regional inclusion.' This year's forum, held under the theme 'Shared Values: The Foundation of Growth in a Multipolar World,' brought together global stakeholders committed to forging new paths of economic cooperation independent of unilateral Western influence. Organized by the Roscongress Foundation, SPIEF 2025 reinforced its reputation as the premier annual platform for international economic policy discussions. Kobyakov reported that 1,060 agreements were signed during the forum, totaling 6.3 trillion rubles (approximately $83 billion). The programme included 350 official sessions, 24 high-level bilateral economic dialogues, 30 sports events, and 18 cultural competitions, demonstrating the forum's comprehensive nature as both a diplomatic and socio-economic platform. With participants from 140 countries and regions, SPIEF 2025 featured the presence of heads of state, ministers, multinational business executives, sovereign wealth funds, and representatives from over 220 educational institutions. The international youth initiative, 'Friends of Leadership,' drew participants from over 60 countries, working alongside UN-affiliated organizations to shape the next generation's perspectives on global governance. Kobyakov announced that St. Petersburg will host a new International Transport and Logistics Forum in 2026, reinforcing Russia's focus on securing resilient and autonomous global trade networks. Furthermore, he emphasized the importance of emerging technologies and regional cooperation frameworks, particularly BRICS and the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), in adapting to a shifting geopolitical landscape. 'The future of global trade lies in the rise of self-reliant macro-regions,' Kobyakov said. 'Those with production, energy, and food security—anchored in political sovereignty—will be best positioned to navigate global instability,' he concluded. Follow us on: Facebook Instagram Whatsapp Short link:

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store