May 21, 2025
Thank you, Mr. President. And let me thank the Secretary-General’s Special Envoy and OCHA Director for their informative briefings on the constantly evolving situation in Syria.
President Trump’s watershed trip to the Gulf this month has created the opportunity for a new chapter of peace and prosperity in the region. Six months after Syrians celebrated the end of the despotic Assad regime, President Trump pledged sanctions relief for Syria to give Syrians, as he said, “a chance at greatness.”
The President wants to see Syria and the entire region thrive. That’s why he’s made a bold decision on Syria with the hope the new government will take this opportunity to rebuild and take the country from being a source of instability to a source of stability.
U.S. government agencies are now working to execute the President’s direction on Syria sanctions. We look forward to issuing the necessary authorizations that will be critical to bringing new investment into Syria to help rebuild Syria’s economy and put the country on a path to a bright, prosperous, and stable future.
The United States also has taken the first steps toward restoring normal diplomatic relations with Syria.
To meet this moment of opportunity for peace and prosperity, Syria’s government must continue to take bold steps and show sustained progress on the clear expectations the United States has communicated.
We call on Syria to make peace with its neighbor Israel and join the Abraham Accords, ending a conflict that has plagued this region for far too long.
We call on Syria to quickly remove foreign terrorist fighters from the Syrian military and ensure foreign terrorists – including Palestinian militias – can no longer operate from Syria.
We call on Syria to cooperate with the United States and our Coalition partners to prevent the resurgence of ISIS and ensure our collective security.
And we call on Syria to work constructively with the United States and the Syrian Democratic Forces to assume responsibility for the detention facilities and the al-Hol and Roj displaced persons camps in the northeast part of the country. In that regard, we also call on Member States to take responsibility for their displaced and detained nationals through expeditious repatriation – and to support the returns of displaced Syrians to their areas of origin.
The new government should also ensure all Syrians have a stake in the country’s political future, and that the rights of all citizens are protected – regardless of religion or ethnicity.
We take note of the Syrian government’s actions so far on critical files, including the destruction of Bashar al-Assad’s chemical weapons and the search for missing U.S. and foreign citizens in Syria. This should give us hope for what Syrians can achieve – and set expectations for what must come next.
Colleagues, President Trump’s recent trip to the Gulf reaffirmed our commitment to partners in the region, and Secretary Rubio’s engagement opened a new chapter in our relationship with Syria.
In that spirit, we continue to urge the new government to choose policies that will reinforce stability, protect human rights of all Syrians, assure peace with Syria’s neighbors, develop Syria’s economy, and become – at long last – a responsible member of the international community.
And with that I thank you, Mr. President.