Washington (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – United States President Donald Trump administration issued visas to Syrian officials to attend meetings at the World Bank, IMF, and UN, in Washington and New York, to discuss restoring support for Syria.
This will be the first occasion in at least twenty years for a high-ranking delegation from the Syrian government to attend the meetings, and it marks the first official visit by Syria’s new leadership to the US since the overthrow of former President Bashar al-Assad in December, 2024.
The officials are expected to participate in the highly-anticipated spring gatherings of the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund.
US officials stressed that this decision does not represent a change in Washington’s stance toward Syria, which continues to be hesitant to engage with Syria’s president, Ahmed al-Sharaa, given his past connections to Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) and al-Qaeda.
The Syrian officials in charge of supervising the interim government’s financial and economic issues have secured visas from the State Department to attend the sessions. According to a source that is familiar with the meeting situation, it remains uncertain if Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani, Finance Minister Mohammed Yosr Bernieh, and Central Bank Governor Abdelkader Husrieh have received their visas to enter the United States.
This might change at the last minute, authorities said.
According to media reports, a spokesperson from the US State Department stated that every visa application is subject to a comprehensive evaluation in line with US law, but emphasized that visa records are private. “We cannot make assumptions about an individual’s eligibility for a visa.”
The US States Department’s spokesperson said that a G-3 visa — which is a non-immigrant visa for representatives of unrecognized governments — can be granted to individuals attending meetings on behalf of member states at specific international organizations like the UN, World Bank, or IMF.
According to media reports, Officials and sources informed that significant financial commitments are expected to be announced concerning Syria during the upcoming World Bank meetings, primarily in the energy sector to alleviate the electricity crisis in the war-torn nation.
What is the US demanding from Syria for sanction reliefs?
The United States is pressing al-Sharaa and his administration for a definitive assurance to protect the rights of all sects and minorities in Syrian society, along with a clear denunciation of terrorism. Recently the US provided a series of conditions to Damascus for sanctions relief, the US has also demanded the withdrawal of foreign fighters assigned by al-Sharaa to high-ranking positions.
Is there a division within the Trump Administration over Syria policy?
A division has come out within the Trump administration regarding its policy on Syria. Some officials have suggested increasing engagement with Damascus, hoping to diminish its reliance on Russia or China for support, while others continue to categorize al-Sharaa as a terrorist and resist any dialogue with him or his aides who were affiliated with Sunni Islamist Political organization, Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham.
As per reports, the administration of United States ex-President Joe Biden held direct discussions with al-Sharaa and informed him that the US would cease its efforts to enforce the $10 million bounty placed on him.
In what ways are Republican lawmakers promoting interaction with Syria?
On Friday April 18, 2025, two Republican lawmakers traveled to Syria, with one allegedly having an audience with the interim president.
United States Republican lawmaker, Marlin Stutzman was quoted by a notable media outlet saying, “There’s an opportunity here. These opportunities come around once in a lifetime. I do not want Syria to fall into the influence of China or return to the sphere of Russia and Iran.”
The other lawmaker, a member of the House Foreign Affairs and Armed Services Committees, Cory Mills is scheduled to meet with al-Sharaa this weekend.
The US has previously issued similar visas to representatives from countries it identifies as state sponsors of terrorism, most notably to Iran, for participation in the annual UN General Assembly held in New York. These visas were often accompanied by restrictions that limit movement to designated streets and buildings.
According to a 1947 accord between the United States and the United Nations, government authorities at federal, state, and local levels are not allowed to impede travel to or from the UN headquarters. Nevertheless, the State Department reserves the authority to refuse visas based on national security reasons.
Syria has been devastated by almost 14 years of conflict that began with a violent response to protests against former President Bashar-Al- Assad, leaving much of the nation’s infrastructure in ruin.
The administration that emerged after Assad’s removal has aimed to mend Syria’s relationships both regionally and internationally, seeking to acquire support for reconstruction initiatives.
However, strong US sanctions set under Assad’s administration remain in force. The United States lifted certain sanctions for six months in January 2025, to promote humanitarian relief, but the effect has been minimal. A notable media reported in February 2025, that efforts to bring in foreign financing to pay public sector salaries had been hampered by uncertainty over whether this could breach US sanctions.
