Trump Moves to Rescind Syria's 'State Sponsor of Terrorism' Designation, Accelerating Normalization

The U.S. Donald Trump administration announced on July 8 (local time) that it will rescind the designation of Syria as a State Sponsor of Terrorism (SST).

This move is interpreted as a step by the Trump administration, which has been pushing for the normalization of relations with the Syrian government, to move beyond sanctions relief and begin full-scale cooperation between the two countries.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated in a release that day that President Trump has notified Congress of his intention to rescind Syria's designation as a State Sponsor of Terrorism.

The rescission of the state sponsor of terrorism designation will take effect after a 45-day review period following the notification to Congress.

Secretary Rubio explained, "This is another historic step by President Trump to give the Syrian people the opportunity to enjoy a great future," adding, "Lifting sanctions on Syria will revitalize international trade and investment, provide Syria with opportunities for reconstruction, and open a new chapter for the Syrian people."

He further explained that this measure is the result of a comprehensive consideration of the executive order on easing sanctions on Syria signed by President Trump on June 30 of last year, the changes in the Syrian government and its counter-terrorism measures since the inauguration of President Ahmed Al-Shara's administration, and the Syrian government's commitment not to support international terrorism in the future.

He added, "Today marks an important milestone in the revived U.S.-Syria bilateral relationship and in the national history of Syria as a nation," and stated, "We look forward to strengthening our partnership with Syria and the Syrian people."

The United States and Syria have been rapidly moving closer, accelerating the normalization of relations following the collapse of the Assad dictatorship in 2024 and the inauguration of President Trump last year.

The two leaders held their first summit during President Trump's Middle East tour in May of last year, and President Al-Shara visited the White House in November of last year, marking the first such visit by a Syrian president, to hold talks with President Trump.

The meeting between President Al-Shara, who was formerly a member of the Islamic extremist terrorist organization Al-Qaeda, and President Trump in the U.S. capital was seen as a symbolic scene demonstrating that Syria, which had been isolated under international sanctions for decades, has begun to cooperate with the West.

The announcement of the rescission of the state sponsor of terrorism designation came after President Trump held a bilateral meeting with President Al-Shara on the sidelines of the NATO summit in Ankara, Türkiye, that day.

During the meeting, President Trump described President Al-Shara as "a strong person and a great leader," adding, "Syria has become a very stable country."

According to Reuters, President Trump personally informed President Al-Shara of the plan to rescind the state sponsor of terrorism designation.

In a letter sent to President Al-Shara, President Trump stated, "I promised you that I would remove all barriers that prevent you from rebuilding your country, and before long, you will be able to do so," Reuters reported, citing the letter it obtained.

In the letter, President Trump also said, "U.S. companies are ready to invest in Syria and contribute to making your country greater and more prosperous than ever before."

(Photo: AP, Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.