U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio Removes Syria from State Sponsor of Terrorism List
On August 24, 2026, United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio formally removed Syria from its designation as a State Sponsor of Terrorism (SST). This action follows a series of steps taken by the U.S. to foster trade relations with Syria, including the repeal of six executive orders on June 30, 2025, and the Caesar Act on December 18, 2025. Historically, SST designation has imposed severe economic restrictions, such as limiting U.S. economic aid, banning military sales and exports, creating additional hurdles for dual-use goods, and establishing significant banking barriers. The rescission aims to ease trade and related activities between the U.S. and Syria, signaling a shift in diplomatic and economic policy towards the nation.