US removes Syria from list of state sponsors of terrorism

On Monday, the United States removed Syria from its list of state sponsors of terrorism, marking the completion of a 47-year designation. This decision, according to US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, signifies the "final major barriers" for private sector investment in Syria and its potential reintegration into the global economy.

The move recognizes the Syrian government's efforts to distance itself from acts of international terrorism. Despite the removal, Syria remains far from secure and lacks a representative government, with ongoing tensions between its neighbors, Israel and Turkey. The Trump administration has embraced Ahmed al-Sharaa, the new president of Syria, who previously headed an al-Qaeda offshoot known as Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS).

HTS was also removed from the US list of global terrorist organizations in late 2024. HTS had been al-Qaeda's affiliate in Syria until Sharaa severed ties with the network in 2016. Sharaa's transitional administration now dominates HTS. The US aims to integrate Syria into its orbit rather than that of Russia or China. Currently, only Cuba, North Korea, and Iran remain on the list of state sponsors of terrorism, with their designations carrying financial sanctions, restrictions on US foreign aid, defense exports and sales, and penalties for those trading with the sanctioned states.