United States to remove Syria from terrorism list in major policy shift

The United States has announced that it will remove Syria from its list of state sponsors of terrorism.

The United States has announced that it will remove Syria from its list of state sponsors of terrorism, marking a significant change in American policy and offering fresh support to Syrian leader Ahmed al Sharaa. The decision is expected to encourage foreign investment and help Syria rebuild after years of conflict and international isolation.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio officially informed Congress of the move on Wednesday. Under American law, the decision will take effect after 45 days unless lawmakers vote to block it, a step that is considered highly unlikely.

The announcement came during President Donald Trump’s visit to Turkey for the NATO summit, where he held talks with Sharaa on the sidelines of the meeting. The meeting highlighted the improving relationship between Washington and Syria’s new leadership following the fall of the Assad government in 2024.

Rubio described the decision as an important milestone that would create new opportunities for the Syrian people. He said removing the terrorism designation would allow greater international trade, attract foreign investment and support Syria’s economic recovery after years of war and sanctions.

According to the US administration, a stable and united Syria would strengthen security across the Middle East and benefit the wider international community. American officials believe the policy change could help the country rebuild its economy while encouraging political stability.

Trump has increasingly backed Sharaa despite concerns from some regional allies, particularly Israel. Israeli officials remain cautious about Syria’s new leadership and have continued carrying out air strikes inside Syrian territory in recent months. Even so, the US administration decided to move forward with the policy change despite the absence of progress in efforts to improve relations between Syria and Israel.

Earlier, Trump had urged Syria to pursue peace with Israel as part of a broader effort to improve regional stability. However, the removal of Syria from the terrorism list was approved independently of those negotiations.

Over the past year, Washington has gradually eased restrictions on Syria after regional partners including Turkey and Saudi Arabia encouraged closer engagement with the country’s new government. During his meeting with Sharaa, Trump praised the Syrian leader for his efforts to unite the country after years of political instability and conflict. He said Syria had inherited enormous challenges following the collapse of the previous government and credited Sharaa with making progress towards national unity.

Syria was first placed on the United States list of state sponsors of terrorism in 1979. The designation carried wide ranging consequences, including strict economic sanctions and legal restrictions that discouraged international companies from doing business in the country. Many businesses, especially those connected to the American financial system, avoided investing in Syria because of the legal and financial risks.

Removing the designation is expected to improve Syria’s access to global markets and encourage international companies to consider new investment opportunities. Analysts say the decision could play a key role in supporting reconstruction projects, restoring economic activity and helping Syria recover after years of conflict.

While the move represents a major shift in US foreign policy, officials have stressed that Washington will continue monitoring developments in Syria as the country works to rebuild its economy and strengthen political stability under its new leadership.