Trump Signals End To Syria Terror Label, Opening Door To Investment

ANKARA, July 9 (dpa) -- President Donald Trump said that he is prepared to remove Syria from the US list of state sponsors of terrorism, a move that would further ease the war-scarred country's reintegration into the global economy.

Asked by a reporter on Wednesday whether he planned to delist Syria, Trump replied: "I think I will, yeah." 

Speaking about Syrian interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa, Trump added: "He's done a great job." The two leaders met on the sidelines of the NATO summit in Ankara, Turkey.

The US State Department later said it had notified Congress of the proposed measure with 45 days' notice. In a statement, the State Department said the move "marks a significant milestone in the revived U.S.-Syria bilateral relationship and in Syria's history as a nation."

Removal from the US State Department's terror list would make it easier for international firms and banks to do business in Syria, and is widely regarded as a prerequisite for securing significant foreign direct investment in the country's economy.

The Trump administration had previously said it was reviewing Syria's designation. Trump did not indicate whether that process had been completed.

Since the overthrow of long-time ruler Bashar al-Assad in late 2024, Washington has steadily moved to normalize relations with Syria and has already lifted sweeping sanctions on the country.

However, Syria's designation as a state sponsor of terrorism, first imposed in 1979, formally remains in force.

--NNN-dpa