Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced Wednesday evening that Trump plans to remove Syria’s designation as a state sponsor of terrorism. The move would end 47 years under that classification—dating back to the early years of Hafez al-Assad’s rule. Rubio is expected to meet with Syrian leader Ahmed al-Julani soon.
1+In his statement, Rubio wrote: “Today @POTUS
informed Congress of his intent to rescind Syria’s designation as a State Sponsor of Terrorism. This historic step opens new possibilities for economic opportunity and recovery, giving the Syrian people a chance at greatness.
.”The secretary of state continued: “Lifting sanctions on Syria will open the door to international trade and investment, give Syria a chance to recover, and open a new chapter for the Syrian people. A stable, united Syria at peace with itself and its neighbors benefits not only the region, but the entire world.”
1+The move joins several other benefits Trump has granted Syria. Last year, the U.S. administration approved lifting “Caesar Act” sanctions imposed on the Assad regime in 2019. Other major restrictions were also lifted—including al-Julani’s designation as a terrorist.
Al-Julani’s Syria is far from terror-free. Just yesterday, a mysterious explosion occurred in Damascus during President Macron’s visit, and days earlier another blast killed six people and wounded 16 more. No terror group claimed responsibility for the explosions, but Syrian officials suspect ISIS—which is strengthening its grip in the country’s northeast.
According to a Saudi report, Trump’s move will also allow American companies to conduct business inside Syria—something previously prohibited. One example is Nokia, which recently faced delays in a $30,000 deal to sell communications equipment to the Syrian parliament.