Debunking the Myth: Why Sanctions on Syria Won't Bring Justice or Stability

Joshua Landis Sandra Mackey Chair in Middle East Studies and Professor of Middle Eastern History joins the program to discuss America's punishing sanctions on Syria. U.S. lawmakers are considering a bill that would tighten sanctions on Syria and hinder the normalization of relations with any government led by President Bashar al-Assad. Some analysts argue that the sanctions would primarily harm the Syrian people rather than the Assad regime, while others believe they will prevent Damascus from rebuilding and consolidating its power. The proposed legislation called the Assad Regime Anti-Normalization Act of 2023, expands on the existing Caesar Act, which imposed sanctions on Syria in 2020. The bill aims to penalize Arab countries, including Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, that have re-established diplomatic ties with the Assad government if they invest in Syria. The United States has been urging Arab states to seek concessions from Assad before normalizing relations, but there has been little progress. The conflict in Syria has resulted in the deaths of nearly half a million people and the displacement of millions more. Some experts argue that the sanctions will further impoverish the Syrian people without bringing justice to Assad, while others believe the measures will prevent the regime from rebuilding and consolidating power. Arab states did not publicly commit to financially supporting Syria's reconstruction during the Arab League summit, but they have urged Damascus to halt the production and trafficking of captagon, a lucrative amphetamine for the regime. If the bill passes, any investment, grant, contract, or donation exceeding $50,000 to parts of Syria controlled by the Assad government would trigger a review for possible financial penalties. It's important to note that Assad still does not have control over certain regions of Syria, particularly the northeast and northwest.

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