Trump Moves to Delist Syria as Terror Sponsor

President Donald Trump informed Congress on Wednesday of his intent to rescind Syria's decades-old designation as a state sponsor of terrorism. This move marks another significant step in Damascus' transition from international pariah toward diplomatic acceptance.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced the decision, stating that it signifies a 'significant milestone' in U.S.-Syria relations and Syria's history as a nation. The notification to Congress opens a 45-day review period before the designation is removed, according to the State Department.

The decision comes after Washington and Damascus have been forging closer relations since the ousting of President Bashar al-Assad in December 2024, which ended the Bashar family's decades-long hold on the country. An interim government led by former jihadist rebel leader-turned-Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa has taken over.

During a press conference held on the sidelines of the NATO summit in Turkey, Trump complimented al-Sharaa as 'the highly respected president of Syria.' When asked about removing Syria from the list of state sponsors of terrorism, Trump replied, 'I think I will. Why wouldn't I? He's done a great job.'

Some Democrats have been pushing for Syria's removal from the list and celebrated the announcement. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, a New Hampshire Democrat and ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said on X, 'I'm glad to see @StateDept announce its plans to remove Syria's SST designation, as I called for last week.'

Syria was among the first to be designated a state sponsor of terrorism in 1979 over its hostility to Israel and support for terrorist groups. The designation applies sanctions that deny U.S. foreign assistance, ban defense exports and sales, impose certain controls over exports of dual-use items, and include financial and other restrictions.

Since the fall of al-Assad, Syria's relations have steadily improved. In June 2025, the Trump administration signed an executive order ending most U.S. sanctions on Damascus. Last month, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee advanced legislation to repeal remaining sanctions imposed on Syria over al-Assad's destabilizing activities in the region.

For many Syrians, the decades of rule by the al-Assad family were filled with oppression and civil war. The economic impact of sanctions has been significant, affecting daily life and business operations. Despite the fall of Bashar al-Assad, many sanctions, including the 'state sponsor of terrorism' designation, have remained in place until now.

The lifting of previous U.S. sanctions has not transformed the Syrian economy, but it is hoped that removing the 'state sponsor of terrorism' listing will allow the country to flourish. The World Bank reported that since 2011, sanctions have led to a major collapse in exports and an increase in the trade deficit.

Interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa's administration has identified the removal of all international and U.S. sanctions as key to reinvigorating the economy. Al-Sharaa, former head of the al-Qaeda-aligned Nusra Front, has made efforts to shed those associations and build trust internationally.

Rob Geist Pinfold, a lecturer on security studies at King's College London, told Al Jazeera that removing Syria from the list is 'extremely significant' as it removes one of the main barriers for international banks and companies. However, he cautioned that other hurdles remain, including concerns about government control, potential ISIL resurgence, bureaucratic impediments, and corruption.

Some Syrians are optimistic about economic improvements, while others remain skeptical. A pastry shop owner in central Damascus said, 'God willing, it will improve things.' However, a minimarket owner expressed skepticism, stating, 'There’s no economy, and there’s no investment.'

Russia hopes by mid-July to have a commercial logistics hub up and running in one of two berths at the naval base it leases in the Syrian port of Tartous. The hub will handle a wide range of Russian goods including wheat and grains, targeting initial cargo volumes of around 250,000 tons per month.

The project is central to Russian efforts to maintain and expand its influence in Syria through economic channels. Moscow has backed Syria for decades and intervened militarily in 2015 to support Assad in a 14-year civil war. The fall of Assad raised questions about the future of Russia's naval base at Tartous on the Mediterranean coast and the fate of its military base at Hmeimim.

Since Assad was overthrown, Damascus has sought closer ties with Western and Gulf countries while cooperating with Moscow in areas including energy and food imports. The U.S. is watching closely as Congressman Joe Wilson last month secured an amendment to the Pentagon budget directing it to assess options for reducing Russia's influence in Syria.