In a move described as a “watershed moment” in Washington’s approach to the Syrian file, the US Senate has voted to repeal the Caesar Act, a sanctions law imposed on Damascus in 2019 as part of a “maximum pressure” campaign against the former Syrian president Bashar al-Assad.
The measure, which passed by a vote of 77 to 20, still requires approval by the House of Representatives before being sent to President Donald Trump for his signature. The decision has sparked broad debate over whether Washington is redrawing its Syria policy for the post-Assad era or merely laying the groundwork for a new regional balance.
A New Era
The reaction in Damascus was swift and celebratory. Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani hailed the vote as a “victory for Syrian diplomacy,” saying the repeal “frees the national economy from harsh constraints that have shackled it for years.”
“Through this step, Syria takes its first breath again, and Syrians regain their right to rebuild and shape their future,” al-Shaibani wrote on X.
Finance Minister Mohammed Yisr Barnieh described the Senate’s action as “the culmination of persistent efforts to lift the last and harshest sanctions on the country,” noting that the approved version includes an additional clause calling for the reopening of the US Embassy in Damascus.
In a social media post, Barnieh added that “the sanctions are now behind us,” and declared the coming phase “one of reform and development”- a clear signal of the government’s intent to restart reconstruction and attract investment.
Testing Washington’s Intentions
The US move goes beyond economics, serving as a test of the political intentions of Trump’s second administration. It comes as Washington seeks to curtail Iran’s presence in Syria and offset Russia’s diminished role amid pressure from the war in Ukraine.
Analysts in Washington say repealing the Caesar Act does not necessarily mean lifting all restrictions or restoring diplomatic ties immediately, but it sends a “political message” to Damascus and regional capitals that the United States is prepared to engage with a new reality provided it is accompanied by tangible reforms inside Syria.
Others see the Senate vote as a pragmatic step aimed at easing the humanitarian burden on Syrians after years of economic paralysis and industrial contraction. The Caesar Act, named after the pseudonym of the Syrian military defector who smuggled out harrowing photos of torture victims, had become increasingly controversial, with critics arguing it worsened living conditions more than it pressured the regime.
‘A Dramatic Victory’ after a Long Battle
Mohammed Ghanem, from the Syrian American Council, told Asharq Al-Awsat that the Senate vote “was not inevitable,” describing it as the outcome of “a fierce battle between supporters and opponents over the past several months.”
He called the outcome “a true victory for all the efforts made to include the repeal of the Caesar Act within the US Defense Authorization Bill.”
Ghanem said the adopted clause stipulates the unconditional repeal of the Caesar Act by the end of this year, adding that “the fight was extremely tough.” But he noted that the legislative process is not yet over, as the bill “will now go to negotiations with the House to finalize a version that will be sent to President Trump for signature before year-end.”
He added that the Council had succeeded in amending disputed provisions so that they are now “non-binding goals rather than mandatory conditions that would automatically reinstate sanctions if unmet.”
Under the current draft, “Congress may only discuss the possibility of reinstating sanctions if the Syrian government fails to make progress within 12 months,” he said.
Ghanem added that this adjustment “foiled attempts to keep the Caesar Act as a sword hanging over investors’ heads.” Another provision, he noted, “requires the administration to submit a report to Congress on efforts to facilitate reopening the US Embassy in Damascus and to advance diplomatic ties between the two countries”- a “clear sign,” he said, “of Washington’s willingness to re-engage with Damascus.”
For his part, Mouaz Moustafa, executive director of the Syrian Emergency Task Force, told Asharq Al-Awsat that despite the positive step in the Senate, “both chambers of Congress must still approve the final version before the repeal is fully incorporated into the National Defense Authorization Act,” a series of federal laws Congress passes annually before the president’s signature.
“We can celebrate today,” Mustafa said, “but the battle to fully repeal the Caesar Act is not over. Continued efforts are needed to ensure it is eliminated unconditionally.”
The Road to the White House
The measure must now follow an additional legislative path: the House will vote on its own version before a joint committee reconciles the two texts. Only then will the bill go to President Trump for signing as part of the new defense budget.
Analysts say embedding the repeal within the defense authorization package gives it broad bipartisan cover and helps avoid divisive debate over policy toward Damascus. Including a clause on reopening the US Embassy in Syria’s capital, they add, also signals a potential reopening of official communication channels after more than a decade of diplomatic rupture.
Regional Context and Shifting Dynamics
The repeal of the Caesar Act also fits within broader regional shifts, as several Arab states have gradually moved toward political and economic normalization with Damascus.
Against the backdrop of mounting pressure on Iran’s presence in Syria, Washington appears to be closely watching how internal balances evolve in line with its priorities for a reshaped Middle East.
Observers say Trump’s pragmatic approach may aim to translate the Arab thaw with Damascus into an opportunity to diminish both Russian and Iranian influence without taking on the costs of reconstruction or direct involvement.
Whatever the final outcome, the US decision marks a new turning point in the Syrian conflict. While Damascus hails it as the dawn of a “new era of rebuilding and revival,” critics of the Assad regime see it as a test of Washington’s ability to reconcile political realism with the moral responsibility long associated with the name “Caesar.”
