The United States has removed Syria from its list of state sponsors of terrorism after 47 years, saying the step lifts the "final major barriers" to private investment and the country's reintegration into the global economy. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the move recognised the Syrian government's positive actions to fully distance itself from acts of international terrorism and would give Syrians "a path to prosperity." Syria had been on the list since 1979, and its removal leaves just three countries on it: Cuba, North Korea and Iran, the BBC reported.
What does the designation carry? The listing carries financial sanctions and restrictions on US foreign aid and on defence exports and sales, and it can also penalise people and other countries that trade with the sanctioned state. Monday's move had first been flagged in July. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said: "Today's action will help foster additional investment in Syria to promote political and economic stability."
Who leads Syria now? The 
Donald Trump administration has embraced Syria's new president, Ahmed al-Sharaa, a former militant who once had an American bounty on his head as the leader of an al-Qaeda offshoot, and Trump welcomed him to the White House last year. Sharaa's Islamist group, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), formerly known as al-Nusra Front, was al-Qaeda's affiliate in Syria until he severed ties with the jihadist network in 2016. In late 2024, HTS led the rebel offensive that overthrew former president Bashar al-Assad, and it dominates Sharaa's transitional administration. Last year the US also revoked the group's designation as a Foreign Terrorist Organisation and removed Sharaa from its list of Specially Designated Global Terrorists.
What risks remain? The US hopes to bring Syria into its orbit rather than that of Russia or China, but the risks remain significant, the BBC reported. Syria is still far from secure and lacks representative government, and it sits at the centre of growing tensions between its neighbours Israel and Turkey.
How did Damascus respond? Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Hassan al-Shaibani greeted the news as a "historic step," the BBC reported, citing the state-run news agency SANA. "We will continue working to remove the effects of isolation and create an environment based on transparency, mutual interests and respect," he said.
Figures referenced: Donald Trump. — JudgeMarket.
