President Donald Trump announced he will terminate American sanctions against Syria, marking a significant shift in American foreign policy toward the war-torn nation.

“I will be ordering the cessation of sanctions against Syria in order to give them a chance at greatness,” Trump said during remarks at a diplomatic forum in Saudi Arabia.

The decision reverses years of economic pressure maintained by previous administrations. Syria has faced comprehensive American sanctions since 2011 under the now-overthrown regime of former President Bashar al-Assad.

While details remain scarce, the Treasury Department is expected to issue formal guidance on the sanctions rollback by the end of the month. Implementation could prove complicated given the layered nature of existing restrictions.

The sanctions, first imposed during the Obama administration, have targeted Syrian government officials, military leaders, and key economic sectors. Their effectiveness has been debated within foreign policy circles.

Supporters of the move argue it could create diplomatic openings previously unavailable to American negotiators, but critics have noted that the newly ascendant Islamist regime in Syria has persecuted Christian minority groups in recent months.

The ultimate impact remains uncertain, but the decision represents one of the administration’s most consequential foreign policy shifts in recent months.