WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) today arrived in Turkey. Senator Graham traveled to the nation to meet with Turkish and U.S. officials to assess the situation in Syria. 

“I have traveled to Turkey this week for the express purpose of assessing the situation in Syria. I am very inclined to support sanctions relief for Syria under the right conditions. However, we must remember that the current leadership in Syria achieved its position through force of arms, not through the will of its people. 

“I know the Trump Administration has provided guidance to Syrian officials about conditions that need to be met before any sanctions can be relieved. I fully understand the role that Congress plays in this process, having supported Syrian sanctions that passed Congress during the 2020 National Defense Authorization Act.  

“Currently, Syria is also listed as a state sponsor of terrorism under U.S. law. In order for that designation to be lifted, the administration must submit a report to Congress on how circumstances have changed. That report has not been received and Congress has the opportunity to review this action if it chooses. The designation of Syria as a state sponsor of terrorism has tremendous ramifications apart from the sanctions. I am certain that Congress would need to be informed of changes in conditions placed on Syria and how they have met those conditions before Congress can make an informed decision on whether or not it should approve the change in designation. 

“I have also been in close contact with Israel, as they are extremely concerned about the state of play in Syria. During this trip, I will be discussing this matter with our allies in Turkey and will maintain extremely close coordination with our allies in Israel so that we can fully understand the implications of sanctions waivers.

“Waiving congressionally-passed sanctions is a complicated process. While I would like to empower the new players in Syria, it has to be done in a coordinated fashion with our allies – especially our friends in Israel – so that numerous security concerns can be addressed. Over the past decades, locations in Syria have been used to attack Israel.

“This newly formed government in Syria may be a good investment and could be the pathway to unifying Syria, making it a stable part of the region. However, there is a lot that must be learned before making that determination. 

“A stable Syria would be a game changer for the region, but given its past, their progress must be evaluated closely.”

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