Syrian Joy at the Prospect of Removal from US Terrorism Lists

SadaNews - The announcement by U.S. President Donald Trump on Wednesday evening, notifying Congress of his intention to remove Syria from the list of state sponsors of terrorism, has sparked a wide range of official and popular reactions, in a move described within Syria as the beginning of turning one of the longest pages of political and economic isolation in the country's modern history.

The announcement came during Trump's meeting with Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa on the sidelines of the NATO summit in the Turkish capital, Ankara, reopening a broad discussion about the future of Syrian-American relations, economic recovery possibilities, and Syria's return to the international financial and trade system.

In a comment from the U.S. administration, Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that the President informed Congress of his intention to withdraw Syria's designation as a state sponsor of terrorism, describing the move as "historic" and considering it opens new horizons for economic recovery and the creation of opportunities, giving the Syrian people a chance to rise.

Closing a Dark Chapter

The Syrian Foreign Ministry welcomed the U.S. announcement, considering it an important development in the course of Syrian-American relations based on dialogue, mutual respect, and shared interests.

It stated that lifting this designation, alongside ending sanctions, would contribute to enhancing opportunities for economic recovery, preparing the necessary environment for reconstruction, and encouraging trade and investment that serve the interests of the Syrian people and support security and stability in the region.

For his part, Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shibani stated that his country has "closed a dark chapter in Syria's history" by lifting the designation imposed in 1979, expressing gratitude to the U.S. President, his Secretary of State, Ambassador Tom Barak, and all who stood by Syria.

New Horizons for the Economy

Syrian officials continued to express their welcoming positions regarding the announcement, with Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research Marwan al-Halabi describing the decision as an important milestone with broad political and economic dimensions, opening new horizons for Syria to open up and cooperate, enhancing its presence in the international community, and providing an opportunity to expand scientific and academic partnerships with international institutions.

Communications Minister Abdul Salam Haikal stated that Syria has become "on the brink of liberation from international constraints for the first time in 47 years", indicating the potential wider opening resulting from the decision.

The Governor of the Central Bank of Syria, Safwan Ruslan, welcomed the U.S. announcement, considering it a positive message for the Syrian people and the international economic community, and that it opens broader horizons for investment, economic recovery, and Syria's reintegration into the global economy.

For his part, the Governor of Aleppo, Izzam Gharib, stated that lifting the designation imposed on Syria since 1979 represents an important milestone in restoring the country's position, confirming that Syria, under the leadership of President Ahmad al-Sharaa, is moving steadily towards development and enhancing its presence on the international stage.

The End of Isolation

On social media platforms, the announcement received widespread interaction from Syrians, many of whom viewed the move as a historic transformation after decades of international isolation.

Researcher Mahmoud Aloush wrote that "Trump's gift to al-Sharaa at the Ankara meeting was the decision to remove Syria from the list of state sponsors of terrorism", noting that notifying Congress initiates a 45-day review period, which is a mandatory legal procedure, but he believed that the chances of completing the decision remain high given Trump's insistence on proceeding with it, considering the step a significant American shift towards Syria, President Ahmad al-Sharaa, and Damascus' regional allies, with its timing being as important as its content.

University professor and economic expert Dr. Ibrahim Nafeh Qushaji considered the lifting of Syria from the list of state sponsors of terrorism confirms that "the Syrian people were never terrorists, but rather victims of the terrorism practiced by the former regime", describing the decision as "a first step towards returning Syria to being a normal country and a people without a stigma".

One activist wrote that "for 47 years, Syria has been captive and isolated from the world, but today the condition of my country began to change for the better", thanking President Ahmad al-Sharaa, Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shibani, and everyone who contributed to reaching this step.

Others believed that when the decision completes its legal procedures, it will not only be a political transformation but will also pave the way for improving the investment environment, facilitating bank transfers, encouraging global companies to enter the Syrian market, enhancing reconstruction opportunities, restoring international institutions' confidence, as well as facilitating travel and immigration procedures for Syrians to the United States.

Users also circulated posts emphasizing that lifting the designation will enhance Syria's international standing, and in the future, it will reflect on trade movement, diplomatic openness, and the strength of the Syrian passport, considering that Syrians have been deprived of many opportunities for decades due to political and economic isolation.

The United States added Syria to the list of state sponsors of terrorism on December 29, 1979, a designation that entails imposing wide-ranging sanctions, including a ban on U.S. aid, restrictions on arms exports and dual-use goods, in addition to financial and trading restrictions that have affected Syria's economic dealings with the outside world for more than four decades.