US Senate Votes to Repeal Caesar Act Sanctions on Syria

The US Senate has voted to repeal the Caesar Act sanctions on Syria, marking a major policy shift, Orda.kz reports.

Supporters of the move say it opens the door to rebuilding the war-torn country after years of economic isolation.

The Senate's vote includes the repeal as part of deliberations on the National Defense Authorization. The bill still needs to be reconciled between the House and Senate versions, and then signed by the President. 

Republican Senator Joe Wilson announced the repeal on X, thanking colleagues for including it in the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA).

Wilson, who has long advocated lifting the sanctions with backing from the Syrian American Alliance, argued that the punitive measures targeted a regime that “no longer exists,” and said Syria’s recovery now depends on a “full and total repeal.”

Syrian Information Minister Hamza al-Mustafa called the decision a major breakthrough, crediting “active diplomacy” and the efforts of Syrians in the diaspora.

The Senate vote followed remarks by Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, who had urged an end to sanctions on Syria during a joint press conference in Ankara with his Syrian counterpart. Fidan warned that the measures had caused severe hardship for ordinary Syrians and called for Syria’s reintegration into the international community.

The repeal represents a significant turn in US policy toward Damascus, potentially paving the way for regional and global re-engagement after years of isolation.

In June, US President Donald Trump formally ordered the removal of sanctions, aligning with a broader diplomatic effort as the Ahmed al-Sharaa government intensifies reconstruction and outreach initiatives.