President Trump on Wednesday committed to removing Syria from the U.S. state sponsor of terrorism list, clearing what officials described as one of the final obstacles to the country’s reintegration into the global community. The pledge came during a meeting with Syrian interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa on the sidelines of the NATO summit in Ankara, Turkey.
“I think I will, yea,” Trump told a reporter who asked whether he would delist Syria. “Why wouldn’t I? He’s done a great job,” the president added, praising al-Sharaa for stabilizing the country after the overthrow of longtime dictator Bashar Assad in December 2024.
A State Department official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said no timeline has been set for the removal, though the matter has been under review since June 30, 2025. The official noted that both the State Department and the president must complete several procedural steps before the designation can be lifted, but declined to elaborate.
The move follows a bipartisan push from lawmakers who earlier this month urged Trump to delist Syria, citing al-Sharaa’s cooperation with U.S. counterterrorism operations. Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.) and Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), along with Representative Joe Wilson (R-S.C.), wrote that while Syria still needs to improve equal representation for women and minorities and bolster security, the steps taken so far are promising. They pointed to a bomb explosion in Damascus on Tuesday, which occurred as al-Sharaa hosted French President Emmanuel Macron, as a reminder of the country’s fragility.
“The grounds for the SST designation in U.S. law no longer apply, and the listing remains a significant barrier to achieving the Administration and congressional priority of giving Syria a chance to succeed,” the lawmakers wrote. They argued that removing the designation would unlock international financing and aid, vital for a nation where an estimated 90% of the population lives below the poverty line and rebuilding after more than a decade of civil war is projected to cost $216 billion.
Al-Sharaa, once himself a U.S.-designated terrorist, led the insurgency that toppled the Assad regime. He has since appealed for regional and American cooperation to steer Syria away from instability and extremism. Congress already approved a repeal of comprehensive sanctions under the Caesar Syrian Civilian Protection Act, which Trump signed into law in December. That repeal allowed Syria to begin transacting with U.S. and regional businesses, but the terrorism designation still blocks it from receiving significant American assistance.
The decision comes amid heightened regional tensions. Trump has been threatening renewed strikes against Iran and warning of a naval blockade, while also addressing NATO allies on Iran, the Turkey F-35 dispute, and Spain’s spending shortfalls. The Syria delisting could shift geopolitical dynamics, potentially opening a channel for U.S. influence in a country long isolated by sanctions.
Critics caution that al-Sharaa’s government has yet to fully deliver on promises of inclusive governance, and the security situation remains volatile. But for now, the administration appears ready to bet that removing the terrorism label will help stabilize Syria and counterbalance Iranian influence in the region.
