Damascus Welcomes Washington's Decision to Remove Syria from 'State Sponsor of Terrorism' List

The Syrian Arab Republic, on Wednesday, officially welcomed the United States of America's announcement of initiating legal procedures to remove its designation as a state sponsor of terrorism. This stance came after US President Donald Trump officially informed Congress of his intention to take this historic step, ending decades of diplomatic isolation.

The Syrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that this decision represents a fundamental development in the course of relations between Damascus and Washington, noting that the next phase will be based on principles of dialogue and mutual respect. Sources confirmed that this shift reflects a shared desire to enhance mutual interests and achieve stability in the Middle East region.

For his part, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio clarified that this step comes within the framework of the US administration's vision to grant the Syrian people a real opportunity to build a better future. Rubio indicated that the decision will officially take effect after the expiration of the legal notification period granted to Congress, which extends for forty-five days according to applicable laws.

In Damascus, Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Al-Shaibani stated that his country succeeded in closing a dark chapter that had lasted since 1979, the year Syria was first placed on the terrorism list. Al-Shaibani affirmed that this achievement came as a result of the policies of the new Syrian leadership headed by Ahmed Al-Sharaa and its orientations towards international openness.

The Syrian Foreign Ministry thanked the current US administration and President Donald Trump for his political courage in making this decision, and also specifically mentioned the efforts made by Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Ambassador Tom Barrack. The ministry stressed that this step will positively impact the lives of Syrian citizens who have suffered from the consequences of long-standing sanctions.

Sources explained that the delisting will directly contribute to creating the necessary investment environment for launching comprehensive reconstruction operations in all Syrian governorates. Damascus also expected that this decision would stimulate international trade and open financial and banking channels that were closed due to previous US restrictions.

The US announcement followed a bilateral summit between Presidents Ahmed Al-Sharaa and Donald Trump in the Turkish capital, Ankara, on the sidelines of their participation in NATO meetings. President Trump described the situation in Syria as very stable, praising the efforts made by the current Syrian government to establish security.

This meeting is the third of its kind between Al-Sharaa and Trump in the past 14 months, reflecting an accelerating pace in normalizing relations between the two countries after years of estrangement. The Syrian President had previously appreciated the mediation role played by Turkey and Gulf countries in bridging views with the US administration.

The Syrian Foreign Ministry affirmed its aspiration to continue constructive work with Washington on various issues of common interest, ensuring the achievement of development and prosperity for the Syrian people. It indicated that ending economic sanctions, coinciding with the removal of the terrorism designation, is the primary demand for completing the national recovery process.

In a related context, observers believe that this step will open the door for major international companies to enter the Syrian market and contribute to energy and infrastructure projects. It is also expected that the coming period will witness an exchange of diplomatic missions and an elevation of representation between the two countries to the ambassadorial level after years of low-level representation.

Regionally, this step was widely welcomed, as international parties considered Syria's stability and its engagement in the international community to be a fundamental pillar for regional security. Neighboring capitals, especially Beirut, are awaiting the results of this Syrian-American rapprochement and its positive effects on outstanding regional issues.

Finally, Damascus stressed that the success of the Syrian people in unifying their country and overthrowing the previous regime was the primary driver for this change in the international stance. It affirmed that the new Syria is moving forward in building balanced international relations that serve the goals of global peace and sustainable development in the Arab region.

This delisting, along with the lifting of sanctions, will contribute to enhancing economic recovery opportunities and creating the necessary environment for reconstruction.