In a major shift of foreign policy, the Trump administration has officially removed Syria from the U.S. list of state sponsors of terrorism. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced the decision, citing the Syrian government's efforts to distance itself from international terrorism.
This move effectively ends nearly five decades of sanctions and isolation, opening the door for private sector investment and reintegration into the global economy. The administration's strategy is clear: by engaging with the new transitional government led by Ahmed al-Sharaa, the U.S. aims to pull Syria out of the orbit of Russia and China.
Al-Sharaa, who rose to power after his group, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), led the offensive that ousted Bashar al-Assad, has seen his organization removed from the U.S. list of global terrorist entities.
While the administration acknowledges the significant risks and the lack of a fully representative government in the region, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent emphasized that the policy change is designed to promote long-term political and economic stability.
Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Hassan al-Shaibani welcomed the decision as a historic step toward ending the nation's isolation. With Syria removed, only Cuba, North Korea, and Iran remain on the U.S. list of state sponsors of terrorism.
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