Ankara, Turkey. President Donald Trump informed Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa on Wednesday that he had decided to remove Syria from the U.S. list of designated state sponsors of terrorism. Trump said he had notified Congress, which will now conduct a 45-day review before the decision can take effect.
Letter to Syrian president
In a letter seen by Reuters, Trump told Sharaa: “I promised to remove all barriers stopping you from rebuilding your country, and very soon, you will finally be able to do so.”
“We have U.S. companies ready to invest in Syria and help make your country greater and more prosperous than ever before,” Trump added in the letter.
A senior U.S. administration official said the letter was handed to al-Sharaa after the two leaders met in Ankara on Wednesday.
Implications of the designation
The designation as a state sponsor of terrorism carries restrictions on U.S. foreign assistance, defense exports and certain financial transactions.
Last year, Trump signed an executive order terminating a U.S. sanctions program on Syria, allowing an end to the country’s isolation from the international financial system.
Regional support and political background
Several Saudi firms are planning billion-dollar investments as part of Riyadh’s efforts to support Syria’s recovery, while other Gulf states have also pledged financial assistance.
Trump on Wednesday also complimented Sharaa, who had been a commander of Al Qaeda’s Nusra Front in Syria before cutting ties with the group in 2016. He later led a coalition of Islamist rebel factions in late 2024 to topple Assad.
Trump has encouraged Sharaa’s actions against the Islamic State militant group in the region. “He’s respected by everybody, including me,” Trump said.