Description: EU Ambassadors on Tuesday agreed on lifting the remaining sanctions on Syria in an attempt to facilitate support for the new transitional government. The Union initially started the easement of sanctions on the war-torn country in Feb, when restrictive measures were suspended on key sectors and industries such as energy, transport and finance. The newest initiative would allow EU member states to support Syria’s ministries of defense and interior in sectors such as reconstruction, capacity building counter terrorism and migration. Kaja Kallas, EU’s chief diplomat, announced that Europe was heavily invested in providing the Syrian state with the necessary support for reconstruction and state building. She also denounced speculations that EU followed suit with the US, after US President Donald Trump last week announced the easement of sanctions to Syria before meeting Syrian President Ahmed Al Sharaa.
Impact: The European Union’s decision to lift the remainder of sanctions on Syria enforces their position in the race for establishing a foothold of influence through economic and diplomatic codependence with the new Syrian government. Syria is considered to be a pivotal country in the Middle East for exercising regional influence and power operations. Trump’s announcement to lift US sanctions on Syria has catalyzed the race for other regional players such as Turkey and global players such as the EU in devising mechanisms through which they could exhibit channels of influence in the new Syrian government. Regional forces such as Saudi Arabia and Qatar are also involved as both countries jointly paid of Syria’s national debt to the World Bank. Despite being a geostrategic hotspot in the Middle East, Syria is crucial for the region’s energy supply as the country’s vast oil potential still remained deadlocked under the strains imposed by the consistent war in the last 15 years.