U.S. President Donald Trump says the United States will remove Syria from its state sponsor of terrorism list. He makes the pledge during a meeting with Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa on the sidelines of the NATO summit in Ankara, Turkey. Multiple outlets report Trump tells reporters he “thinks” he will proceed with the removal, and he adds praise for al-Sharaa’s efforts since taking power in 2024, describing them as a “great job” in rehabilitating the country after its civil war.
The reports characterize the terrorism designation as one of the remaining obstacles to Syria’s reintegration into the international community. France 24 and The Hill describe the announcement as a commitment tied to Trump’s broader engagement with al-Sharaa during the NATO-related meetings. Bloomberg’s accounts emphasize Trump’s remarks to reporters during the bilateral meeting and the positive assessment of al-Sharaa’s governance.
All sources agree on the central point: Trump signals U.S. intent to lift Syria’s terrorism-related designation during or immediately following the meeting in Turkey.
