Syria welcomes US move to remove terror blacklist label

Syria welcomed a US announcement that it would remove the country from the US list of state sponsors of terrorism, a designation that has curbed investment for nearly five decades.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio notified Congress on Wednesday of the planned delisting. The move is due to take effect in 45 days unless lawmakers block it.

Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani wrote on X that “a dark page in Syria’s history has been turned.” The Syrian foreign ministry called the announcement an important development in relations with the United States.

Syrian Finance Minister Mohammed Barnieh said the decision “paves the way” for investment, economic recovery and reintegration into the global economy. Academic and economic adviser Ziad Arbash told AFP the delisting removed what he called the biggest legal barrier to Syria’s integration into global financial and commercial systems.

The United States has listed Syria as a state sponsor of terrorism since 1979. The announcement came as President Donald Trump met Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa on the sidelines of a NATO summit in Turkey.