After the European Union… Canada Eases Its Sanctions on Syria and Appoints Ambassador to Damascus
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On Thursday, Canada announced a six-month easing of financial sanctions imposed on Syria as a humanitarian step aimed at promoting democratic transition and achieving stability in the country. The Canadian Ministry of Foreign Affairs clarified that this easing includes allocating 84 million USD in new humanitarian aid for Syria.
Additionally, Canada issued a permit allowing financial transactions, including dealings with seven state-owned Syrian banks. Alongside this, Canada appointed its ambassador to Lebanon, Stephanie McCollum, as a non-resident ambassador to Syria to enhance diplomatic communication with regional and international actors.
For his part, Canada’s Special Envoy to Syria, Omar Al-Ghabra, confirmed that Canada can play an effective role in supporting Syrians to build a stable future. The European Union had announced in late February 2025 the suspension of some sanctions on Syria in the energy and transport sectors and removed four Syrian banks and Syrian Airlines from its sanction lists.
