Trump Lifts U.S. Travel Ban on Syrians in Surprise Policy Shift
AL-MODON (Lebanese website)
June 7, 2025
Syria had previously been under a full travel ban during Trump’s first term in office.
Syria had previously been under a full travel ban during Trump’s first term in office.
U.S. Special Envoy for Syria Thomas Barak confirmed to the agency that Washington had reached a “verbal understanding” with the Syrian transitional government regarding the plan
This is Barrack’s second major appearance in the region, following what was described as a “historic” trip to Damascus earlier this year, Syria TV writes.
“Syria has never been, and will never be, a threat to any party in the region,” the foreign ministry emphasized, according to North Press.
The Turkish announcement comes amid reports that Syria’s transitional government has launched an ambitious plan to build a unified national army, Ultra Syria writes.
Shibani reaffirmed Syria’s unwavering commitment to national sovereignty, territorial unity, and non-interference in internal affairs, SANA reports.
The drawdown follows an earlier announcement by the U.S. Department of Defense on 18 April, in which Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell confirmed plans to reduce American troop numbers in Syria, Enab Baladi writes.
While the transitional Syrian government has taken steps to contain and restrict the movements of foreign combatants, the issue has proven deeply complex, al-Hal writes.
Barak praised the evolving cooperation between the United States and Turkey on Syria, according to Syria TV.
Western policy towards Syria’s new regime blends incentives with discipline—a “diplomacy of conditionalities.”
Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa arrived Sunday at Bayan Palace in Kuwait City, where he was received with official honours by His Highness Sheikh Mishal Al-Ahmad
According to the joint statement, this financial assistance stems from a desire to “support Syria’s stability,” “alleviate humanitarian suffering,” and “serve the interests of the Syrian people”—all framed as part of the historic and fraternal ties between the three nations.
Barrack’s language reveals much about how America wants to be understood. In diplomacy—as in literature—meaning lies not only in what is said but in how the message is structured.
Turkish Vice President Cevdet Yılmaz has described the recent visit of Syrian Transitional President Ahmad al-Sharaa to Turkey as a “significant turning point” in the bilateral relationship.
SANA described the event as a “practical indicator of a new phase” in Syrian-American relations, Zaman al-Wasl writes.
The closure of the Polisario office is part of a broader effort to restore diplomatic ties between Syria and Morocco, Enab Baladi writes.
“For now, this is about coexistence, not normalization,” one source involved in the talks said.
The meeting, which brought together top officials from both governments, was held away from the media spotlight, al-Hal writes.
While London has avoided presenting itself as an official sponsor of Syria’s transitional authorities, its fingerprints are increasingly visible, Malek Hafez argues.
While recognizing Trump’s move as a step in the right direction, Hof emphasized to al-Majalla the enormity of the task ahead: rebuilding a country devastated by over a decade of war, and reconstituting its political and economic institutions under international scrutiny.
