The US has removed Syria from its ‘state sponsor of terrorism’ list, a decision confirmed last month and initially revealed earlier this year. This action also revoked the designation of al-Nusrah Front, the group formerly led by Syria’s President Ahmed al-Sharaa, also known as Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) — as a global ‘terrorist’ organisation, according to Al Jazeera.

Economic Implications

Removing Syria from the list is expected to ease restrictions on US foreign assistance, defence exports, and financial transactions, which are now seen as critical impediments to investment in Syria. The country is seeking to reestablish itself in the international community and markets, as reported by Al Jazeera. The governor of Syria’s central bank, Safwat Raslan, described the move as ‘a historic step that restores the country to its natural place in the global economic system’.

Having lifted sanctions on Syria in June 2025, alongside the European Union, the US announced in July its decision to delist Syria from its ‘terror’ list. This was based on efforts by al-Sharaa to unify the country, as Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said in a statement that ‘Today’s action will help encourage additional investment in Syria to promote political and economic stability’.

Political Context

HTS was once al-Qaeda’s official branch in Syria and was led by al-Sharaa; Under his leadership, the group removed former President Bashar al-Assad in December 2024 following a lightning offensive, according to Al Jazeera. Al-Sharaa has launched what many experts describe as a charm offensive aimed at Western powers, including meetings with President Donald Trump and French President Emmanuel Macron.

Separately, the Korea JoongAng Daily highlighted the broader context of US decisions regarding state sponsors of terrorism, particularly in the case of North Korea; the article noted that the State Department faces a critical decision regarding North Korea under the Iran-Russia-North Korea sanctions bill enacted in August. This law requires the secretary of state to decide within 90 days whether to relist North Korea as a state sponsor of terrorism.

Regional and Global Concerns

Korea JoongAng Daily outlined several accusations against North Korea, including the unspeakable treatment of Otto Warmbier, the assassination of a member of the Kim family with chemical weapons on foreign soil, collusion with Iran to develop nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles, cyberattacks on American film companies, support for Syria’s chemical weapons program, arms sales to Hezbollah and Hamas, and attempts to assassinate dissidents in exile.

These issues highlight the complexity of US foreign policy in the region, where Syria’s removal from the ‘state sponsor of terrorism’ list appears to reflect a strategic shift, while North Korea remains under scrutiny. The broader implications of these decisions extend beyond the individual countries and affect international efforts to combat terrorism and promote stability.