Syria signals willingness to slash Russian oil imports in bid for US sanctions relief

Syria has told the United States it’s ready to dramatically cut its purchases of Russian crude, a concession aimed squarely at winning relief from US sanctions. Specifically, the country wants off the state sponsor of terrorism designation, a label that has effectively walled it off from Western capital markets, banking systems, and trade relationships. What’s actually happening Senior Syrian officials conveyed the message during bilateral negotiations with their American counterparts. The talks have been focused on finding common ground in the post-Assad era, after the longtime strongman was ousted from power. The numbers tell the story of just how dependent Syria has become on Russian crude. In 2025, Russia supplied Syria with 16.8 million barrels, which works out to about 46,000 barrels per day. By 2026, that figure surged to an estimated 60,000 bpd. In other words, Syria was moving in exactly the wrong direction if it wanted to cozy up to Washington. Syrian economist Karam Shaar has been among those acknowledging the necessity of finding alternative energy suppliers, particularly given the persistent risks tied to Russia’s involvement in the Ukraine conflict. The broader geopol...