US removes Syria from list of state sponsors of terrorism

Key Points:

• The US has officially removed Syria from its list of state sponsors of terrorism after 47 years, aiming to eliminate major barriers for private sector investment and Syria's reintegration into the global economy.
• Secretary of State Marco Rubio cited Syria's efforts to distance itself from international terrorism, including the severing of ties between Syrian militant leader Ahmed al-Sharaa and al-Qaeda affiliates.
• The Trump administration has embraced President Ahmed al-Sharaa, a former militant formerly targeted by the US, reflecting a strategic shift to bring Syria closer to US influence rather than Russia or China.
• Despite the delisting, significant risks remain due to Syria's ongoing insecurity, lack of representative government, and regional tensions involving Israel and Turkey.
• Syria's removal leaves only Cuba, North Korea, and Iran on the US list of state sponsors of terrorism, following earlier moves such as the delisting of HTS and Sharaa from terrorist designations.