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Donald Trump announced this Wednesday his intention to remove Syria from the list of state sponsors of terrorism, a move that would leave Cuba, Iran, and North Korea as the only three countries remaining on that register.
The announcement was made during a joint press conference with the Syrian transitional president, Ahmed al Shara, as part of the NATO summit held in Ankara, Turkey.
"I think I will. Why wouldn't I do it? He has done a great job," Trump stated to the press before settling the matter with a brief "yes, I will," addressing Secretary of State Marco Rubio directly.
Hours later, Rubio formally notified Congress of the president's decision. "This historic step opens new possibilities for recovery and economic development, providing the Syrian people with the opportunity to achieve a bright future," the Secretary of State wrote.
Syria is the country with the longest history on that list: it was included on December 29, 1979, becoming one of the four original members alongside Iraq, Libya, and South Yemen. It was the only one of those four that remained on the list after the removal of Libya in 2006.
The designation was maintained for decades due to the support of the regime of Bashar al-Assad for groups such as Hamas, Hezbollah, and Palestinian Islamic Jihad, as well as its ties to Iran. The withdrawal would end 47 years of being on the list.
The path to this decision began with the collapse of Al-Assad's regime in December 2024 and the rise to power of Al-Shara. In June 2025, Trump signed Executive Order 14312, which lifted the U.S. economic sanctions on Syria. The notification to Congress this Wednesday represents the final formal step to complete the withdrawal of the designation.
Trump enthusiastically praised the Syrian leader during the meeting in Ankara. "He has unified the country in a very short period of time," he stated, adding, "He is a great leader, respected by all, including myself, and we are proud to have him with us."
While Syria leaves the list, Cuba remains on it with no prospects of leaving. Trump reincorporated the island on January 20, 2025, his first day back in the White House, reversing the decision that Joe Biden had made just six days earlier as part of a Vatican-mediated agreement to release over 500 political prisoners.
In June 2026, Rubio confirmed before the Senate that Cuba remains on the list due to its support for the ELN and FARC, and for hosting Chinese and Russian intelligence bases on its territory. Cuba was originally included in 1982, removed by Obama in 2015, reinstated by Trump in January 2021, and has since been subjected to a cycle of additions and removals depending on the current administration.
With Syria's exit, the list of state sponsors of terrorism by the Department of State would be reduced to its remaining three members: Cuba, on the list since 1982, with interruptions; Iran, since 1984; and North Korea, reinstated in 2017.
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