In brief
The United States has removed Syria from its list of state sponsors of terrorism, a move that ends nearly five decades of sanctions and opens doors for private-sector investment. State Department Secretary Marco Rubio praised the Syrian government for distancing itself from terrorist activities, highlighting steps toward reintegration into the global economy. The decision leaves only Cuba, North Korea and Iran on the list, while Syrian President Ahmed al‑Sharaa, once a militant with an American bounty, is now seen as a partner for the U.S. However, security concerns and regional disputes continue to pose challenges to Syria’s transition.
US removes Syria from list of state sponsors of terrorism
After 47 years of sanctions, the United States has officially removed Syria from its list of state sponsors of terrorism, a move that the Treasury and State Departments say lifts the “final major barriers” for private‑sector investment and signals a new chapter in the country’s global economic engagement.
Marco Rubio called the delisting a recognition of Syria’s positive steps to distance its government from acts of international terrorism. The President’s administration has publicly embraced former militant leader Ahmed al‑Sharaa, who once commanded a group that was designated as a terrorist organization and who was hunted by U.S. authorities.
The same group, known as Hayat Tahrir al‑Sham (HTS) and formerly al‑Nusra Front, was removed from the U.S. list of global terrorist organisations, and al‑Sharaa was dropped from the list of Specially Designated Global Terrorists in 2024.
HTS led an offensive that toppled former President Bashar Al‑Assad. Despite taking power, the transitional regime remains fragile; the United States hopes to bring Syria under its orbit rather than that of Russia or China. Yet security remains a concern as Syria sits at the center of escalating tensions between Israel and Turkey and continues to be effectively isolated by sanctions.
The move was hailed by Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Hassan al‑Shaibani as a “historic step,” with the Foreign Ministry promising to “remove the effects of isolation and create an environment of transparency, mutual interests and respect.”
Financial implications are now clearer: the designation carried U.S. sanctions, limitations on aid, defense exports and trade restrictions. As a result, U.S. private companies can anticipate fewer obstacles to investment, and future foreign aid may be more readily available. The delisting leaves only Cuba, North Korea and Iran on the list of state sponsors of terrorism.
