Trump says U.S. will move to remove Syria from state sponsor of terrorism list after meeting Ahmed al-Sharaa
The Facts
- Trump said the United States will remove Syria from the U.S. list of state sponsors of terrorism after meeting Syrian leader Ahmed al-Sharaa at the NATO summit in Ankara.
- Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the administration notified Congress of its intent to rescind Syria’s designation.
- The planned rescission is subject to a 45-day pre-notification or review period before it takes effect.
- Syria has been on the U.S. state sponsor of terrorism list since 1979.
- Multiple reports say the designation has limited or impeded investment in Syria, and U.S. officials said removing it would help open access to trade and investment and support reconstruction.
- The move is part of broader U.S. steps to improve relations with Syria under Ahmed al-Sharaa, after Trump had already eased some sanctions and engaged directly with the Syrian leadership.
- The change is not yet final, because the administration has only begun the legal process and Congress has been formally notified rather than the designation being immediately removed.
- Syria’s government publicly welcomed the U.S. step and said it viewed the move as important for bilateral relations and the country’s economic recovery.
Context
What exactly has the U.S. done so far?
Trump said he would remove Syria from the terrorism list, and Rubio said the administration has formally notified Congress of its intent to rescind the designation. The change would come after a 45-day pre-notification period, so it has been initiated but is not yet in effect infobae,Hindustan Times,India Today.
Why does removal from the list matter for Syria?
Sources say the designation has long restricted investment and broader economic engagement with Syria. U.S. officials said lifting it would help unlock trade and investment and give Syria a better chance to rebuild Lenta.ru,Hindustan Times,Le Monde.
How has Syria responded?
Syria’s government welcomed the U.S. announcement, calling it an important step in relations with Washington and saying it could support the country’s economic recovery infobae,РИА Новости.
Where Left and Right agree, and where they split
- Where Left and Right agree
- Removing Syria’s designation would mark a major shift in relations, and both framings treat the formal review process as a meaningful constraint on that change.
- Where Left and Right split
- Whether the story is about clearing a barrier to Syria’s reconstruction, or about ensuring a major diplomatic reset happens through orderly legal procedure.
How left and right read it
What matters here is that a designation in place since 1979 has been described as limiting investment, while U.S. officials say removing it would open access to trade and investment and support reconstruction. The step is also moving through a formal review process rather than taking effect immediately, which matters when a major shift in relations is being tied to Syria’s economic recovery.
What stands out is that this is being done through the legal process, with Congress formally notified and a 45-day review period before anything takes effect. That matters because a major shift in relations with Syria should move through orderly procedure, not executive improvisation, even as the administration continues its broader effort to reset ties under Ahmed al-Sharaa.
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