US President Donald Trump says the United States will remove Syria from the list of state sponsors of terrorism. Multiple outlets report that he makes the commitment during the NATO summit in Ankara, Turkey, while meeting with Syrian interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa. Trump also publicly signals that Syria has taken steps since taking power in 2024, praising al-Sharaa’s work.
Reuters, cited by Al-Monitor, adds that Trump informs al-Sharaa in a letter and says he has decided to remove the country from the US designation. Daily Post Nigeria reports that the administration formally notifies Congress of the decision, triggering a mandatory 45-day review process. Other coverage describes Trump’s remarks as indicating the move would remove one of the remaining obstacles to Syria’s re-engagement internationally.
While outlets vary slightly on timing and phrasing—“state sponsor of terrorism” versus “terrorism sanctions list”—they describe the same US intention to lift Syria’s designation, with formal steps involving congressional notification and a review period.
