The United States has officially removed Syria from its list of state sponsors of terrorism, a move hailed by Secretary of State Marco Rubio as a significant step towards fostering investment and facilitating economic recovery in the country. This decision follows a mandatory 45-day congressional notification period and aligns with President Donald Trump’s earlier declaration that Syria’s government had halted its support for international terrorism.
Rubio noted the rescission of Syria’s designation coincided with the delisting of Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist organization. He emphasized that this change would eliminate barriers to private investment in Syria and encourage economic growth.
In recent statements, Rubio highlighted the Syrian government’s progress in counterterrorism efforts, including its formal entry into the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS. He mentioned that Syria had taken significant actions under President Ahmed al-Sharaa to distance itself from international terrorism.
Al-Sharaa, who led a rebellion ousting Bashar al-Assad, expressed that lifting the terrorism designation would help restore Syria’s ties to the global financial system, paving the way for investment and reconstruction after years of conflict. U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent also supported this sentiment, asserting it aligns with the goal of promoting stability in Syria.
While the U.S. has lifted Syria’s designation, Cuba, Iran, and North Korea remain on the list of state sponsors of terrorism.
