Century International: “A Humane Choice: Sanctions Relief for Syria’s Earthquake”

I have a new commentary out today for Century International, on the Biden administration's decision to temporarily relax Syria sanctions to facilitate earthquake relief – clearly the responsible, humane thing to do, and a move worth defending.

https://tcf.org/content/commentary/a-humane-choice-sanctions-relief-for-syrias-earthquake/

Days after the deadly earthquake that struck Turkey and Syria, the U.S. Treasury issued a general license authorizing earthquake relief to Syria that would otherwise be prohibited by sanctions. The license broadened the scope of actors permitted to contribute to the earthquake response. That helped mitigate the "chilling effect" of sanctions – which can discourage even legitimate, permitted activities – and likely ensured a bigger, faster emergency response for Syrians in need, at a moment when size and speed really mattered.

Some in Washington are, unsurprisingly, up in arms. They argue it was unnecessary given sanctions' existing humanitarian exemptions, and they claim it will enrich and encourage normalization with Damascus. They are wrong. But the Biden administration hasn't really made that case, and it hasn't communicated effectively why issuing this license was the right thing to do for disaster-stricken Syrians.

This license was the normal human way to respond to a natural disaster and humanitarian crisis. And as it comes under attack in Washington, it's worth defending – even if the Biden administration may be reluctant to do that itself.