• Latest
  • All
  • Essays
  • Reports and Analysis
Caesar Act, Predictions of Ending Assad’s Political Era

Caesar Act, Predictions of Ending Assad’s Political Era

12:41 PM - 19 June, 2020
Nagorno-Karabakh: Azerbaijan hopes for a bright future after the conflict

Nagorno-Karabakh: Azerbaijan hopes for a bright future after the conflict

2:33 PM - 25 September, 2023
Europe’s Migration Crisis: Schizophrenia and Duplicity Amidst Challenges and Consequences

Europe’s Migration Crisis: Schizophrenia and Duplicity Amidst Challenges and Consequences

1:47 PM - 23 September, 2023
Football offensive in Saudi Arabia: Sportswashing your reputation abroad, creating a new identity at home

Football offensive in Saudi Arabia: Sportswashing your reputation abroad, creating a new identity at home

1:14 PM - 22 September, 2023
Betrayed by Russia, Armenia is looking for a way out of a strategic impasse

Betrayed by Russia, Armenia is looking for a way out of a strategic impasse

1:52 PM - 21 September, 2023
Tea Time with Ahmet Kuru, Part 1

Tea Time with Ahmet Kuru, Part 1

2:16 PM - 20 September, 2023
Nationalism under Erdogan – Ataturk’s nation no longer exists

Nationalism under Erdogan – Ataturk’s nation no longer exists

2:33 PM - 18 September, 2023
The political pokerface of the European Union

The political pokerface of the European Union

1:16 PM - 17 September, 2023
Saïed lets the EU fall flat and Europe continues to sleep

Saïed lets the EU fall flat and Europe continues to sleep

2:29 PM - 16 September, 2023
Europe Monitor No. 1 in 2023

Europe Monitor No. 12 in 2023

2:16 PM - 15 September, 2023
Muslims vote right

Muslims vote right

1:56 PM - 14 September, 2023
German government and associations warn against traveling to Turkey after the arrest of a German parliamentarian

German government and associations warn against traveling to Turkey after the arrest of a German parliamentarian

1:54 PM - 13 September, 2023
Gender segregation soon in Israel?

Gender segregation soon in Israel?

2:44 PM - 12 September, 2023
2:33 AM - 4 October, 2023
  • fr Français
  • en English
  • de Deutsch
  • ar العربية
  • Login
MENA Research Center
No Result
View All Result
MENA Research Center
No Result
View All Result
MENA Research Center
No Result
View All Result

Caesar Act, Predictions of Ending Assad’s Political Era

12:41 PM - 19 June, 2020
A A
Caesar Act, Predictions of Ending Assad’s Political Era
192
VIEWS

Disputes are raised by the US Caesar Act regarding the political future of the Bashar al-Assad, head of the Syrian regime. The disputes increased as the law will come into force next week, which caused deterioration in the economic situation. That situation led to protests erupted in the regime controlled areas.

Human Rights organizations have warned of a famine that might hit Syria, as the poverty rates have exceeded 80%, and the Syrian pound has dramatically fallen against the foreign currency, in addition to the lack of some basic merchandise.

Background

German political analyst Michael Laubsch says that the first phase of the Caesar Syria Civilian Protection Act came into force yesterday, US-law sanctions not only against Syria, but against anyone doing business with the Syrian regime in certain sectors, such as energy and construction. The name comes from the law of the anonymous photographer who has provided evidence of torture and murder in Syria since 2011. That is why the protection of civilians is also enshrined in the title of the Caesar Act.

But things are not that simple, according to Laubsch: The Caesar Act clearly falls into the category of a US foreign policy, which – simply explained – wants to achieve a result B through action A. In this case, the Bashar al-Assad regime is said to be so isolated and weakened by an economic collapse that the outcome of the nine-year war Assad won with the help of its supporters from Russia, Iran and Lebanon will be revised – if necessary through a collapse of the state. And if Lebanon, which was a branch of the Syrian economy even before the war, also collapses, the desired effect is also targeting Lebanon and Hizbollah. According to the analyst, all of this is not in the Caesar Act, on the contrary: there is no demand for Assad’s departure, but a correction of his behavior. The catalog of criteria that he has to meet is completely understandable from a humanitarian and legal point of view. Assad’s implementation, however, is almost unthinkable: he would have to take himself to court. Washington’s intention is different.

Knockout and Collapsing Economy

Amy Mackinnon, a US journalist, says that the Caesar sanctions are a threat for the already suffering Syrian economy. The sanctions will be a fresh blow for the embattled regime, the journalist notes.

The US new sanctions prevent all the international bodies and organizations of dealing with the Syrian regime and the bodies belonging to it or that have any links with it.

These sanctions are considered as the most punishing sanctions imposed on the Syrian regime since the start of the Syrian uprisings in 2011.

According to Mackinnon, the support of both Congress parties for the new sanctions means that there is an American desire to pressure Assad’s regime more, through increasing the blockade imposed on it, especially with the political pressures imposed on the US administration to vigorously enforce the new measures once they go into effect.

“While Assad appeared to be emerging victorious from the brutal war and talk had turned to reconstruction, a spiraling economy is now threatening his grip on power,” Mackinnon explains.

According to economic data, since last April until the beginning of June, the Syrian pound has lost around 70% of its value.

Politics Determined by Economy

The aim of putting Caesar Act into effect now is attributed to an American desire to prevent the Syrian regime from taking advantage of its military advance to control the entire country.

The US plan aims at maintaining the political instability through economic pressure, especially that Washington attempts to prevent Russia from benefiting of the economic privileges that it will gain from Syria if Bashar al-Assad stays in power.

During the past three years, Russia signed several agreements with the Syrian regime, through which it controlled the gas fields and ports. Moreover, the Russian President, Vladimir Putin has instructed to start talks with the Syrian regime to grant Russian armies immovable property and additional marine areas in Syria.

By imposing the sanctions, Washington is targeting the popular support for Assad, which played a significant role on keeping Assad in power.

The International Committee of the Red Cross has revealed the gravity of the humanitarian situation in Syria, in light of the high prices, especially with the rise in flour prices by 300 %, amid fears that the regime will no longer be able to import basic food materials.

Other Effects

Yunus Karim, an economic analyst, expects that the conditions surrounding the regime will increase the impact of the sanctions on its structure and power, especially the dispute between Assad and his cousin Rami Makhlouf.

Human rights groups and economic analysts accuse Makhlouf of being responsible for the collapse of the Syrian pound especially that he threatened earlier with catastrophic consequences on the Syrian economy, if the regime’s institutions continue to harass him and control his companies.

“Caesar is a continuation for previous sanctions imposed on the regime since 2011, and they were smart sanctions that included some figures linked with the regime,” Karim explains. He notes that sanctions pressure the regime’s allies to push towards a political solution, and reduce their influence in Syria.

All publishing rights and copyrights reserved to MENA Research and Study Center

Tags: SyriaUSA

Related Posts

Betrayed by Russia, Armenia is looking for a way out of a strategic impasse
Featured

Betrayed by Russia, Armenia is looking for a way out of a strategic impasse

1:52 PM - 21 September, 2023
1.3k
The political pokerface of the European Union
Europe

The political pokerface of the European Union

1:16 PM - 17 September, 2023
943
German government and associations warn against traveling to Turkey after the arrest of a German parliamentarian
Europe

German government and associations warn against traveling to Turkey after the arrest of a German parliamentarian

1:54 PM - 13 September, 2023
943
Summer feuilleton on Tuesday: The history of Hezbollah as a TV series
Featured

Summer feuilleton on Tuesday: The history of Hezbollah as a TV series

2:23 PM - 15 August, 2023
932
Poland is not ready to change its stance on migration
Europe

Poland is not ready to change its stance on migration

3:38 PM - 7 August, 2023
893
Geopolitical challenges in the Middle East: Polish perspective
Featured

Geopolitical challenges in the Middle East: Polish perspective

2:08 PM - 4 August, 2023
1.1k
MENA Research Center

2023 © by Target

MENA Research & Study Center

  • About Us
  • Advanced search
  • Podcast
  • Privacy Policy
  • Imprint

Follow Us

No Result
View All Result
  • Advanced search
  • Reports and Analysis
  • Essays
  • Regions
    • Mena
    • Europe
  • Topics
    • Politics
    • Politics Islam
    • Migration
    • Terrorism
    • Extremism
  • Podcast
    • Europe Monitor
    • Talks and Input
  • Videos
  • About Us
  • Contact us
  • English
    • Arabic
    • French
    • German

2023 © by Target

Welcome Back!

Sign In with Google
OR

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In

Add New Playlist

Pin It on Pinterest

This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used. Visit our Privacy and Cookie Policy.
error: Alert: Content selection is disabled!!
  • English
  • العربية
  • Français
  • Deutsch