US to drop Syria from terror blacklist
The terrorism label remained a key obstacle to Syria's postwar reconstruction.
WASHINGTON — The Trump administration will remove Syria from the US list of state sponsors of terrorism, paving the way for greater commercial investment in the war-torn country.
In a move Secretary of State Marco Rubio said would “give the Syrian people a chance at greatness,” President Donald Trump on Wednesday informed Congress that his administration would be lifting Syria’s designation as a State Sponsor of Terrorism (SST) following a 45-day pre-notification period.
“Lifting sanctions on Syria will unlock international trade and investment, give Syria a chance to rebuild, and open up a new chapter for the Syrian people,” Rubio said in a statement.
The announcement came hours after Trump met with Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa on the sidelines of the NATO Summit in Ankara. Asked if he would delist Syria, Trump told a reporter, “Why wouldn't I? [Sharaa] has done a great job.”
