Trump Announces Plan to Remove Syria from Terrorism Sanctions List
Claire Weston
Trump told reporters after meeting Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa at the NATO summit that he would take Syria off the U.S. State Department's state-sponsor-of-terrorism list — if finalized, this would be the most significant sanctions rollback on Syria in decades, directly shaping whether foreign capital can flow into the country's reconstruction.
What exactly did Trump say?
On July 8, Trump met Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa on the sidelines of the NATO summit and told reporters he would remove Syria from the State Department's state-sponsor-of-terrorism list.
His words: "I think I'm going to do it. Why not? He's doing a great job."
This means → It remains a verbal statement, not a formal process — but a public presidential commitment sharply raises the odds of follow-through.
Why is Syria still on that list?
Syria has been on the state-sponsor-of-terrorism list for decades, carried over from the era of Bashar al-Assad.
Al-Sharaa himself once led an al-Qaeda affiliate. The U.S. designated him a terrorist in 2013 with a $10 million bounty.
He announced a break with al-Qaeda in 2016 and overthrew the Assad regime in December 2024, taking control of Syria.
In plain terms = the man the U.S. now wants to de-list was, ten years ago, one of its own most-wanted — that identity gap is why this move is so contested.
What groundwork has the Trump administration already laid?
Trump had previously lifted some economic sanctions on Syria and invited al-Sharaa to the White House.
This latest statement is the newest step in a sustained policy loosening, but removing a country from the terrorism-sponsor list is a higher-order action with deeper consequences.
This means → easing economic sanctions addresses trade restrictions; list removal opens sovereign-level diplomatic and financial channels — the two are not in the same league.
What role does Syria play in America's Middle East chessboard?
The U.S. is coordinating with Turkey, the NATO summit host, to push for a unified Syria.
Syria is also a key arena for the U.S.–Iran influence contest, complicating Washington's broader push toward a deal with Tehran.
This reflects a deeper logic: Trump's outreach to al-Sharaa is not just "rewarding good behavior" — it is a repositioning of American influence across the Middle East.
Why is Israel uneasy?
Israel has long viewed Damascus as an adversary and is wary of Trump elevating al-Sharaa.
Israel has struck Syrian targets militarily and insists on maintaining a military presence inside Syria, citing the need to prevent threats similar to the October 2023 Hamas attack.
Syria demands that Israel withdraw its forces and halt operations — the two sides are sharply opposed.
Once the list removal goes through, can Syria actually rebuild?
Syrian reconstruction still faces sectarian tensions, the ISIS threat, disputes over Kurdish-controlled areas, and a shattered economy.
Al-Sharaa's series of meetings at the NATO summit may boost his international standing, but standing is not the same as solutions.
In plain terms = removing Syria from the list opens a door, but the road behind it is long — whether foreign capital actually flows in depends on Syria delivering a minimum level of certainty on security and governance.
Content is for reference only, not financial advice.