Trump says he'll remove Syria as state sponsor of terrorism for the first time since 1979

Key Points:

• President Donald Trump announced at the NATO summit that he intends to remove Syria from the State Department's State Sponsors of Terrorism list, praising Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa for unifying the country and making positive changes.
• Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed that the administration has notified Congress of the intent to delist Syria, starting a 45-day review period; while Congress could block the move, significant opposition is not expected.
• Syria has been on the terrorism list since 1979 due to the former al-Assad regime's support for terrorist groups, but the potential delisting would remove a major barrier to Syria rejoining the international financial system and accessing foreign assistance.
• The U.S. has already taken steps to normalize relations with Syria, including lifting sanctions through the repeal of the Caesar Act and facilitating al-Sharaa's official visit to the White House, signaling a new phase in U.S.-Syria relations.
• Lawmakers remain cautiously optimistic, urging Syria’s government to continue progress on human rights and regional security, while the lifting of the terrorism designation could open the door to significant economic investments in Syria.