US Defense Budget Includes Clause to Repeal Caesar Act, Vote Expected Soon

Mohamed Alaa Ghanem, a member of the Syrian-American Council, has confirmed that a clause repealing the Caesar Act against Syria has been incorporated into the final version of the US Department of Defense budget. A vote on this matter is expected in the coming days.

In a statement to the SANA news agency, Ghanem expressed, "We are pleased to inform the Syrian people that the work on the repeal clause has concluded, and it has been included in the final budget approved by both chambers of Congress. The vote will take place in a few days. After today, there is no room for altering this clause; this long and arduous battle is now over."

Ghanem noted that Congressional leaders have briefed their members on the final budget version to be voted on. He stated that attempts to modify the repeal clause to impose stricter conditions continued until the last minute but were ultimately unsuccessful due to persistent efforts. He assured that this news is being communicated to Syrians in detail without fear of further changes.

He added that this achievement signifies the unconditional repeal of the Caesar Act by the end of the year, eliminating the automatic reimposition mechanism. The term "conditions" has been removed from the final text, replaced by Congress's hope that the Syrian government will address issues such as combating Captagon and implementing the March 10 agreement with the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF). These are areas where the Syrian government is already collaborating with the US government. The final text does not grant the US president any new authority to impose sanctions on Syria.

Ghanem described today as a significant victory in this battle, noting that the upcoming vote will not only address the repeal of the Caesar Act but also the final version of the defense budget that includes this secure clause, which cannot be altered.

He mentioned, "The next opportunity to vote on the US defense budget is scheduled for next Thursday, although Congress has not yet set an official date for the vote. After the budget is approved, the final version will be sent to President Donald Trump for his signature, and the clause will take legal effect upon signing, which is expected before the Christmas holidays."

Ghanem concluded by stating, "We congratulate the Syrian people once again and hope this significant achievement will encourage investors to engage more in the Syrian market, as the Caesar sword is no longer hanging over the Syrian economy." He expressed gratitude to other Syrian-American organizations that contributed to reaching this moment.

Recent developments in US politics have shown positive momentum towards the complete and unconditional repeal of sanctions imposed on Syria under the Caesar Act. This follows statements from Brian Mast, the chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, confirming his support for the repeal, and Senator Chris Van Hollen's announcement of his approval for the complete repeal of sanctions without any mechanisms or conditions. These advancements are attributed to significant collaborative efforts between the Syrian government and various Syrian-American organizations.

On October 10, the US Senate voted in favor of repealing the Caesar Act as part of the National Defense Authorization Act. However, the repeal requires approval from the House of Representatives before being submitted to President Trump for signature to become effective.

It is important to note that the US Congress enacted the Caesar Act in December 2019 to penalize the Syrian regime for war crimes committed against civilians. The law took effect in June 2020, and President Trump announced on May 13 that he would lift sanctions on Syria, but the repeal of the Caesar Act requires approval from both chambers of Congress.