On 23 June 2025, the EU Council approved a new set of conclusions on Syria, confirming the EU's support for the country's peaceful transition and its engagement with the transitional government to facilitate Syria's economic...more
On May 23, 2025, 10 days after President Trump announced his directive to lift U.S. sanctions on Syria during his visit to Saudia Arabia last month, the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control...more
Building on the Quick Take Alert K2 Integrity published on 15 May 2025, this alert outlines the recent developments regarding the easing of Syria sanctions. While the United States has not fully lifted its Syria sanctions, it...more
On May 23, 2025, the Trump administration issued a general license (GL) significantly relaxing the patchwork of restrictions on Syria, long a jurisdiction subject to comprehensive sanctions. This regulatory action followed a...more
On May 23, 2025, the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) issued General License 25 (GL 25), authorizing transactions prohibited by the Syrian Sanctions Regulations, effectively lifting sanctions on Syria. This comes 10...more
In a significant shift in international policy, the United States, European Union, and United Kingdom have each taken steps to ease sanctions on Syria, aiming to support the country’s reconstruction and political transition...more
In recent weeks, the United States, European Union, and United Kingdom have taken significant steps to relax of their sanctions on Syria, paving the way for long-awaited normalization of commercial relations and...more
General License 25 effectively suspends OFAC sanctions targeting Syria. Stringent US export control restrictions on exports and reexports to Syria remain....more
Key Takeaways: - In a sweeping policy reversal unveiled in Riyadh on May 13, 2025, President Trump pledged to lift the entire U.S. sanctions regime on Syria. - Although the Trump administration seeks quick sanctions relief...more
The UK’s sanctions regimes remain dynamic as they continue to respond to geopolitical changes. In recent weeks, the UK has enhanced its Russia sanctions, despite the uncertain direction of the international sanctions on...more
Recent geopolitical events have prompted further changes in the European Union (EU) and UK sanctions regimes against Russia, Belarus and Syria....more
On 24 February 2025, marking the third year of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the European Union (“EU”) adopted the 16th package of sanctions against Russia, correspondingly aligned sanctions targeting Belarus, and...more
What’s New? The European Union and the United Kingdom remain committed “to keep up the pressure on the Kremlin” by way of imposing further sanctions as Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine enters the fourth year. Within a...more
During K2 Integrity’s 14 March webinar, panelists Chip Poncy and Mohammed Alaa Ghanem discussed the assistance required in Syria and Türkiye in the wake of the 6 February earthquakes; gave an overview of sanctions imposed on...more
On 13 December 2021, the EU imposed sanctions against the Wagner Group, a private military entity based in Russia, as well as related entities and individuals, citing human rights abuses and destabilising activities in...more
The EU has recently made certain notable EU asset freeze designations in relation to Belarus1 and Syria, focusing on various government officials – including President Alexander Lukashenko in Belarus - The Belarusian and...more
The Situation: In response to events in Syria and in the face of strong Congressional pressure to act, President Trump introduced sanctions targeting Turkey. The Result: Although the President indicated that a ceasefire...more
On 21 January 2019, the EU adopted the first sanctions measures under its new sanctions framework targeting parties involved in the use and proliferation of chemical weapons introduced in October 2018...more
There have been a number of key developments in the European Union (“EU”) and United Kingdom (“UK”) sanctions regimes over the summer of 2017. Alongside the inevitable updates to the UK's sanctions policy in light of Brexit,...more
There have been a number of key developments in the European Union (“EU”) and United Kingdom (“UK”) sanctions regimes in relation to North Korea, Russia, Syria and other jurisdictions since our last update. North Korea -...more
OFAC, acting under the direction of President Obama’s Executive Orders, has lifted the economic and financial sanctions against Burma and Côte D’Ivoire. The revisions open these countries, and their financial markets, to...more
Overview of US and EU Trade Sanctions - Following is a summary of the current US and EU sanctions that restrict trade with and/or investment in certain countries, “Specially Designated Nationals” (SDNs) and “Blocked...more
Below is a summary of developments since our previous update in March relating to European Union (“EU”) sanctions on Iran, North Korea and other jurisdictions as well as highlights of recent changes with respect to the...more
In support of the international crackdown on the black market trade of looted cultural artifacts, the FBI recently announced that art dealers may be prosecuted for engaging in the trade of stolen Iraqi and Syrian antiquities....more