US removes Syria from terrorism sponsor designation after 47 years

On Monday, the US State Department officially removed Syria from its list of state sponsors of terrorism, paving the way for the country's economic recovery. President Donald Trump had notified Congress in July of his intent to rescind Syria's designation, which required a 45-day congressional review. Since 1979, Syria had been on the US blacklist alongside Iran, Cuba, and North Korea.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent stated that the action aligns with President Trump's promise to provide the Syrian people with an opportunity for greatness, potentially fostering additional investment and promoting political and economic stability. The US also revoked the designation of the Al Nusra Front, a group that had severed ties with Al Qaeda in 2016 and later rebranded as Hayat Tahrir Al Sham in 2017.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio lauded Syria's government for taking positive actions and fully distancing itself from international terrorism under President Ahmad Al Shara.

In the past year, the Syrian government has made significant strides in countering terrorism. President Al Shara, who previously led HTS, has formed a strong relationship with President Trump since the regime of Bashar Al Assad was toppled in December 2024. Washington lifted sanctions imposed under the Caesar Act last year, but Syria's delisting as a state sponsor of terrorism was a substantial barrier to its economic recovery, estimated to cost $216 billion according to the World Bank.

The State Department recently released an investor handbook to facilitate US companies entering the Syrian market, addressing anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism concerns as additional constraints.