In a statement to “The Hill” newspaper, Mast clarified that his position “does not contradict” the Trump administration’s tendency towards complete cancellation of sanctions, but he indicated that the current presidential authority is limited to suspending them for renewable periods of six months.
Mast, who mentioned that he is holding “daily talks” with the White House regarding the Syrian file, is walking a “fine line” between supporting the lifting of comprehensive sanctions known as the “Caesar Syria Civilian Protection Act,” and demanding the establishment of “standards” that Damascus must adhere to in order to avoid the reimposition of sanctions. This move is expected to provoke objections from supporters of the final cancellation, who warn that merely threatening to reimpose sanctions will weaken investor confidence and hinder reconstruction efforts and the international integration of Syria. This comes at a time when Trump and Syrian President Ahmed al-Shara, in addition to prominent regional allies such as Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, are pressing for a complete lifting of sanctions, considering that the continuation of the “Caesar” system hinders opportunities for economic recovery and revealing the fate of missing Americans in Syria. (Sky News)
