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President Trump said he plans to remove Syria from the U.S. State Sponsors of Terrorism (SST) list after meeting Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa on the sidelines of a NATO summit. That is a bold step. It matters. And yes, it will upset plenty of people in Washington who prefer penalties to results.
Trump moves to remove Syria from State Sponsors of Terrorism list
The President’s comment comes after a year of quiet work inside the government. The Treasury already took Syria off its “Specially Designated Global Terrorists” list and Congress repealed broad sanctions that once tied Washington’s hands. A bipartisan group of lawmakers — including Senators Jeanne Shaheen and Elizabeth Warren and Representative Joe Wilson — even sent Secretary of State Marco Rubio a letter saying Syria no longer meets the strict criteria for the SST label and that the designation blocks reconstruction and investment.
Why removal matters for U.S. policy, Syria reconstruction, and counterterrorism
Removing Syria from the SST would unlock private investment, U.S. aid, and practical tools the new Syrian government needs to keep extremists out. That’s the point. America can’t rebuild the world with a permanent “Do Not Enter” sign on a country that now says it wants to work with us against terrorists. President Trump also floated a useful security angle: cooperation against Iran-backed Hezbollah. If Damascus helps cut off Hezbollah’s safe havens, that is a net win for Israel and for U.S. interests — and yes, stability beats endless penalties that only fuel black markets and bad actors.
Risks, safeguards, and the proper American approach
No one should pretend Syria is perfect. Critics demanding immediate, flawless democracy are asking for fairy dust. The smarter move is to remove the SST label while keeping strong conditions: regular State Department reports, clear benchmarks on counterterrorism and human rights, and contractual requirements tying reconstruction dollars to verifiable reforms. We get leverage by offering opportunity, not by clinging to a symbolic punishment that buys us nothing.
What comes next — policy that marries principle with results
President Trump’s intent to act should be paired with a firm plan. Secretary Rubio should move deliberately but quickly, using the delisting to pull Syria away from Iranian influence and to reward cooperation with reconstruction contracts and transparency. If Ahmed al-Sharaa backslides, the levers to punish can be reattached. For once, Washington has a chance to turn policy into peace and profit — let’s not waste it on Washington-style moral preening while Iran quietly digs in.
