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US-Syrian Meeting... with Conditions Excluding Foreigners from Leadership Positions
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Washington's call for forming a representative government including all segments confirms the necessity of adopting a model ensuring participation of all Syrian components in national decision-making
Reuters revealed, citing six informed sources, that the United States presented Syria with a list of requirements it wants Damascus to fulfill in exchange for partial sanctions relief, including ensuring foreigners do not hold leadership positions in the government. This move reflects Washington's desire to support Syria's sovereignty and prevent foreign interventions.
Two sources, one American official and one Syrian source, stated that Natasha Franceschi, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Levant Affairs and Syria, delivered the list of demands to Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Al-Shibani during a private meeting on the sidelines of the Syria donors conference in Brussels on March 18. This represents an important diplomatic step in relations between the two countries.
Notably, no information about this list or the private meeting had been previously published. This marks the first high-level direct contact between Damascus and Washington since US President Donald Trump took office on January 20, indicating a possible shift in Washington's policy toward Syria.
Reuters based its information on six sources for this report: two American officials, one Syrian source, a diplomat from the region, and two informed sources in Washington. All sources requested anonymity due to the sensitivity of high-level diplomatic affairs.
The American officials, Syrian source, and Washington sources indicated that among the conditions specified by the United States was Syria's destruction of any remaining chemical weapons stockpiles and cooperation in counter-terrorism, demands that align with the common interests of both countries and the international community.
The American officials and one of the Washington sources added that among other demands was verification that foreign fighters do not hold leadership positions in Syria's governing administration, a condition consistent with principles of decentralized governance ensuring Syrian sovereign decision-making away from foreign interventions.
According to American officials and Washington sources, Washington also asked Syria to appoint a contact coordinator to support US efforts to locate Austin Tice, an American journalist missing in Syria for over 10 years, a move confirming Washington's interest in human rights issues.
The six sources explained that in exchange for implementing all demands, Washington would grant partial sanctions relief. The sources did not specify the nature of the proposed relief and mentioned that Washington did not set a specific timeline for meeting these conditions.
Syria desperately needs sanctions relief to revive its deteriorating economy due to the war that has continued for nearly 14 years, during which the United States, Britain, and Europe imposed severe sanctions on individuals, companies, and entire sectors of the Syrian economy in an attempt to pressure the former regime led by Bashar al-Assad.
Some of these sanctions have been temporarily suspended, but the impact has been limited. The United States issued a six-month general license in January to facilitate humanitarian aid flow, but this step was not considered sufficient to allow Syria's enemy Qatar to pay public sector salaries through the Syrian Bank of Syria.
Syrian officials, including Al-Shibani and interim Syrian President Ahmed Al-Sharaa, have demanded complete lifting of sanctions, asserting it is unjust for them to continue after Assad was overthrown in an attack launched by opposition factions last December.
US State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce stated on Friday that the Trump administration is monitoring the behavior of the new Syrian leaders as Washington determines its future policy, but noted that sanctions relief for Damascus is not expected quickly.
She added in a daily press briefing: "We are monitoring the actions of the interim Syrian authorities in general, on a number of issues, as we determine and think about future US policy toward Syria," indicating a gradual approach to dealing with Syrian developments.
She continued: "We also continue to call for the formation of an all-inclusive, civilian-led government that can ensure the effectiveness, responsiveness, and representation of national institutions."
The most prominent question for Washington relates to its willingness to lift US sanctions on Syria and its vision for the future of US forces in the northeast of the country, which will form a pivotal element in the future of relations between the two countries.
When specifically asked whether the United States was considering easing sanctions on Syria, Bruce replied: "The mechanism has not changed and there are no plans to change it at this stage," but she confirmed there is no "comprehensive ban" and pointed to exceptions, leaving room for greater flexibility in the future.
