U.S. Removes Syria From State Sponsors of Terrorism List
The move takes effect 45 days after notice to Congress unless blocked, potentially easing trade and investment access.
The United States will remove Syria from its list of state sponsors of terrorism, a designation that has weighed on Damascus since 1979. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Wednesday, July 8, notified Congress that the revocation would take effect after a 45-day review period unless lawmakers block it. The step comes after President Donald Trump met Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa on the sidelines of the NATO summit in Ankara, Turki. Washington said the new Syrian government has taken positive steps and given assurances it will not support international terrorism. If it takes effect, the decision would remove one of the main barriers to Syria regaining access to international trade, investment and the financial system after decades of sanctions and isolation.