A group of U.S. lawmakers from both the Republican and Democratic parties intends to introduce a bill today, Thursday, aimed at preventing the U.S. government from recognizing Bashar al-Assad as the president of Syria and enhancing Washington's ability to impose sanctions as a warning to other countries normalizing relations with Assad. The bill, which Reuters has reviewed, would prohibit the U.S. federal government from recognizing any Syrian government led by Assad, who is under U.S. sanctions. Additionally, it expands the American Caesar Act, which has imposed a series of stringent sanctions on Syria since 2020.
This comes after Arab nations on Sunday ended years of confrontation with Assad by allowing Syria's return to its seat in the Arab League, a significant milestone in his reintegration into the region even as the West continues to ostracize him following years of civil war. The United States has stated it will not normalize relations with Assad and that its sanctions will remain in place.
The bill's sponsors explained that "the re-entry of Syria into the Arab League has alarmed members of Congress and highlighted the need for swift action to send a signal." The bill includes a provision requiring the Secretary of State to submit an annual strategy over the next five years outlining how to counter the normalization of relations with Assad's government, including a list of diplomatic meetings held between the Syrian government and Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, and other countries.
The bill will also clarify the potential application of U.S. sanctions on Syrian Air and Cham Wings Airlines. A senior official stated that under the proposed bill, sanctions would be imposed on any country's airport that allows either airline to land there. If enacted, the bill would also require a review of financial transfers, including donations over $50,000 from individuals in Turkey, the UAE, Egypt, and many other countries, to areas of Syria controlled by Assad's government.
